World Wildlife Fund has identified the polar bear as a unique symbol of the complexities and interdependencies of the arctic marine ecosystem.

In its mission to conserve nature, WWF is helping save polar bears through local, hands-on research, national awareness of threats to the species, and global policy initiatives.

• Advocating for implementation of a U.S.-Russia polar bear treaty, which establishes international measures to study and protect the shared population of polar bears in the Bering and Chukchi seas;
• Helping to reduce conflicts between polar bears and people;
• Supporting teams of scientists and community members who are monitoring habitats and seasonal distribution of polar bears and their prey species;
• Identifying key breeding and "denning" coastal habitats for conservation and protection; and,
• Addressing other threats to polar bears such as shipping and offshore oil and gas development, two activities that we believe will cause additional stress to this already imperiled species.