Polar Meltdown by J. Burchett Page A

fleecy slings!” Ben went on. “We knew we couldn’t leave any clues about Wild so we sprinted back over to them and took them out.”
    â€œAnd then Nosy started to wander away!” laughed Zoe. “And we thought we might have to head her off.”
    The website flashed up and their godfather clicked on the news tab.
    â€œAstonishing find,” he read, winking at the children. “Two cubs turned up on our doorstep yesterday morning. An early present from the Easter bunny?”
    â€œScroll down, Uncle Stephen,” said Ben urgently. “I want to find out how Guzzle is.”
    â€œThe cubs, which we’ve named Snow White and Ariel, were missing their mum, but with a bit of tender loving care, they are eating well and will soon join their new foster mother.”
    â€œAwesome,” said Ben. “Guzzle was so sweet.”
    â€œAnd you say I’m the one who’s always too soft about animals!” declared Zoe.
    â€œYou are,” said Ben. “You get the gold medal every time. I’m just pleased they’ve found another mother for them.”
    â€œThat’s what we’re here for,” said Dr Fisher with a smile. He finished reading the article. “We have no idea who the cubs’ human rescuers were. We only saw your boot tracks, but thank you whoever you are.”
    â€œAnd thank you from us,” said Erika, giving the children a hug. “I’m very proud to have been your mother for a few days.”
    â€œDon’t get soppy, Mum,” laughed Zoe.
    â€œHey, Zoe,” said Ben, turning back to the screen. “Here’s an idea for a summer holiday. They do tourist visits at the centre. We can go and see Nosy and Guzzle – or should I say Snow White and Ariel?”
    â€œYay!” cried Zoe. “I’d love to see them again.”
    â€œEven better.” Ben grinned mischievously. “It says here: ‘Why not swim with the bears, separated only by a thin sheet of glass?’”
    â€œNo thanks.” Zoe laughed. “I never want to come that close to an adult polar bear again!”

WILD RESCUE
    POLAR BEAR FACTS
    POLAR BEAR SURVIVAL
    Polar bears live in the Arctic region. They need sea ice for hunting and breeding, and migrate each year, following the movement of the ice.
    No. of polar bears living in the world today20,000–25,000
    Regions in which polar bears can be found: Canada, Greenland, Norway, USA, Russia Percentage of polar bears living in Canada: 60%
    Life span: About 20–30 years in the wild – although most do not live beyond 15–18 years.
    Oldest polar bear recorded: 45 years old (in captivity).

    The polar bear is the largest land carnivore.
    Weight: Male polar bears (boars) grow two to three times the size of females (sows). Boars can weigh more than 650kg and are about 2.5–3m long. The largest polar bear ever recorded was a male weighing 1,002kg and measuring 3.7m long.
Female polar bears breed about once every three years. The usual litter is twins, but occasionally there may be three or very rarely four. Cubs stay with their mum until they are about two and a half years old.
    STATUS: VULNERABLE
    The polar bear is classified as a vulnerable species on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This means it is not currently endangered, but its future is far from certain.
    Polar bear fur might look white, but it actually has no colour and is transparent. It looks white because it reflects light. The large paws of a polar bear are designed to be like snowshoes. They spread out the bear’s weight and stop it sinking in the snow. Its feet are also slightly webbed – like a duck’s!
    THREATS
    LOSS OF HABITAT
    Climate change is the biggest threat to the polar bear. The dramatic increase in thawing of the Arctic sea ice has reduced their prey. It is predicted that the summer sea ice may disappear in the next 20–30 years, which will