World Wildlife Fund
Polar Bear Campaign
Kevin McMillon
Save the Polar Bears
Campaign
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Television advertisements
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Mail distributions
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worldwildlife.org/species/polar-bear
My Analysis
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Semiotics - The study of signs and symbols
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Evaluation of Scientific Claims
Semiotics
Body Language
It Extends to Animals
How the WWF Uses Images
Not Shown
The Science
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“Polar bears are at the top of the food chain and have
an important role in the overall health of the marine
environment.”
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“8 subpopulations are in decline and there is a high
estimated risk of future decline due to climate change.”
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“Polar bears depend on sea ice as a platform from
which to hunt seals, rest and breed . . . Many polar
bears now suffer from malnutrition and others face
starvation, especially females with cubs.”
The Eight Declining
Subpopulations
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One has an unknown estimated population
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One has not declined yet
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Three do not have enough data to determine if they
have declined
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http://pbsg.npolar.no/en/
The Other Eleven
Populations
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Seven have insufficient data for population analysis
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Three are remaining steady
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One has an increasing population (M’Clintock
Channel)
Derocher, Lunn, and Stirling
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“Exactly how and when polar bears will respond to
climate change in different areas is uncertain but based
on life history characteristics we suggest that the species
is vulnerable in several areas, at least over the longer
term.”
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“High Arctic Islands are almost certain to become an
important refuge for polar bears and this area is among
the least studied of anywhere in Canada.”
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“Alternatively, in some areas polar bears populations may
increase if the changes increased seal populations.”