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| Great White North |
| Fruitcakes (April Fools?) Propose Life Vests For Polar Bears |
| 2009-03-27 |
| To raise awareness for the endangered species, a design company has come up with a life-vest for displaced polar bears. From Inhabitat.com, part of the Guardian Environment Network As the climate crisis mounts and Arctic icebergs slip away, polar bears are suffering starvation, population declines, and drowning as they must swim further and further to find food. Seeking to raise awareness for the endangered species' plight, ADDI Concepts has taken wildlife preservation literally by designing a life-vest for displaced polar bears struggling to stay afloat as their homes sink into the sea. Polar bears are facing a bleak future as Arctic icebergs continue to melt and ancient shelfs of ice collapse. The species inhabits only the Arctic Ocean and its surrounding areas, and they and can hunt consistently only from sea ice. ADDI Concepts conceived of their polar bear life jackets not as a solution for the endangered species, but as a means to increase awareness about global warming and inspire action. Their portfolio states: "A dog who lives most of its days carried around in an expensive handbag doesn't need a camouflage hoodie and a small cap over its ears. There are a few other [creatures] who we should give at least the same attention" The design group has also conceived of a bulletproof vest for Bengal tigers, whose numbers have decreased by 95% since 1910 due to illegal hunting. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #10 I'd pay good money to see them try to put a life vest on a polar bear, Spot. :-D |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2009-03-27 21:34 |
| #9 Spot beat me too it but if they try I hope the video makes it too the net |
| Posted by: rabid whitetail 2009-03-27 20:35 |
| #8 Wonder no more, Amerika, its official - your Holiday fruity Fruitcakes are indeed good enuff to be used as life rafts/preservers, even for non-humans! |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-03-27 19:32 |
| #7 It was quite good, 3dc. My undying gratitude to Alaska Paul. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2009-03-27 18:59 |
| #6 Speaking of which that Whale Meat steak did look tasty... |
| Posted by: 3dc 2009-03-27 17:17 |
| #5 Question: How far can Polar Bears swim? Answer: They can swim for up yo 38 km without coming up for a breath. While in the water they paddle with their front feet, and use the hind feet as rudders. They can swim at a speeds of 4-6 mph and paddle non-stop for 100 miles. Have been seen swimming several hundred miles from the nearest ice or land. While swimming, they keep their eyes open, their nostrils shut and their ears flattened to their heads. Polar bears can stay under up to 2 minutes. They are also capable of leaping out of the water 7'-8' feet from a swimming start. They have been seen catching seals that way. Methinks the Guardian Environment Network is full of the, nhow you say, shit? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2009-03-27 15:33 |
| #4 How about we get em little speed boats and teach them how to drive them instead? Makes about as much sense |
| Posted by: tu3031 2009-03-27 15:30 |
| #3 I'd like to see them try to put a life vest on a polar bear... |
| Posted by: Spot 2009-03-27 15:19 |
| #2 How nice! An impractical, meaningless gesture. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2009-03-27 14:59 |
| #1 That a) Polar bear numbers are on the increace, b) Polar bears can _swim_, and c) Polar Bears will often swim great distances, not really in search of ice, but in search of PREY, seems to have escaped them. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2009-03-27 14:51 |