In August, the BBC published a news item about a Canadian worker killed by two polar bears. [emphasis, links added]
The article claimed: ‘There are about 17,000 polar bears living in the country – making up around two-thirds of the global population of the species, according to the Canadian government.
‘The species is in decline, and scientists attribute it to the loss of sea ice caused by global warming – leading to shrinking of their hunting and breeding grounds.â€
No doubt in BBC World, they actually believe that polar bears are dying out. It is, after all, an article of faith for the global warming cult.
However, far from declining, the worldâ€s population of polar bears has tripled since the 1960s, thanks to the ban on hunting in 1973.
The BBC has now formally upheld the complaint I submitted at the time, and has posted this on their Complaints Page:
Complaint
A reader challenged a statement in this article that claimed that the global population of polar bears was in decline. The ECU [Executive Complaints Unit] considered whether it met the standards of due accuracy set out in the BBC Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
The article reported on the death of a worker who was attacked by two polar bears in Canadaâ€s northern Nunavut territory. It said such attacks are rare and continued as follows:
‘There are about 17,000 polar bears living in the country – making up around two-thirds of the global population of the species, according to the Canadian government. The species is in decline, and scientists attribute it to the loss of sea ice caused by global warming – leading to shrinking of their hunting and breeding grounds.â€
Research carried out by the ECU confirmed scientists agree climate change will cause a reduction in sea ice, which is likely to have a long-term detrimental effect on polar bears and overall population numbers.
There are also considerable challenges in obtaining reliable data. However, evidence from the Canadian Wildlife Service and the Polar Bear specialist group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature appears to suggest numbers are stable overall at present and not in decline as stated.
Upheld
Further action
The finding was reported to the Board of BBC News and discussed with the editorial team concerned.
Top photo by Hans-Jurgen Mager on Unsplash
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