When it comes to humans, the issue of climate change can divide us. What should we do about it? Should it be a priority? Is it even happening? (Yes, yes, it is.) But in the animal kingdom, climate change can bring together species and populations who previously would have had little contact with each other, creating interesting new circumstances and even new hybrid species.

Photo by Tony Joyce, photo contest submission.
Photo by Missy Mandel, photo contest submission.

A report studying the phenomenon said there were 34 opportunities for hybridization across 22 Arctic species. This includes the creation of a new hybrid: the “grolar bear”. 1 female polar bear breeding with two male grizzlies produced 8 offspring, who have off-colour white fur, and the flatter-face of a grizzly.

Whilst this is a unique phenomenon, there is a potential risk endangered species could hybrid breed themselves into extinction, and that “hybrid species” would not be viable in the wild.

As for now, it is difficult to say what this means for Arctic wildlife, but the future looks unpredictable but exciting.

Read more about how climate change is fuelling the curious phenomenon of hybridization in Kerry Bank’s story in Canadian Wildlife magazine, Jul + Aug 2018 edition.

Photo by Garfield Milne, photo contest submission.

Laisser un commentaire