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So what is the real truth behind polar bears and global warming? Will polar bears be extinct within 100 years?

The World Wildlife Federation (WWF) has a a new promotional appeal running with ACTRESS Sharon Lawrence, calling out for immediate help to prevent polars from becoming extinct within a couple of generations as a result of Climate Change [or alleged Global Warming]. See the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs37-Pr5SHY Yet one of the things that started this all a few years ago were the pictures that Al Gore exploited in his extensive Global Warming lecture tour which displayed polar bears on melting ice. But in truth, they turned out to NOT be bears in panic because "their home was melting". They were polar bears in transit who happened on an ice island when the photographer cruised by, and the bears were curious to check the vessel out (maybe food on board?) while standing on something solid versus swimming in the water. And polar bears can swim for very long distances. See picture here: http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/02_1/polarbrsDM010207_468x762.jpg They were never in peril. So when actresses come on TV and proclaim that polar bears are becoming extinct (so send in your money QUICKLY to the World Wildlife Federation) -- is this HYPE? Is this the TRUTH? Or is it taking a few climactic moderations of about a half degree in temperature over 100 years and projecting disaster for an entire species of wildlife -- to draw in money because people are gullible but have big hearts and are willing to donate? Bonus points for actual facts versus opinion in responding. This writer is neutral on the issue but confused as to so many conflicting opinions. What's the straight dope on the topic of polar bears becoming extinct which is a more precise subgroup of the bigger question about global warming. (For purposes herein, I'm only asking about POLAR BEAR EXTINCTION because the Global Warming debate is much more extensive than what space provides inside Yahoo! Answers to address. Please stay focused on the question of POLAR BEARS. Thank you!)

Public Comments

1. No they won't be extinct. They will find a way to adapt to climate change. Maybe they'll migrate to the South Pole, then they'll be known as Bi-Polar Bears!
2. I seriously doubt that we will let such a singular species as the polar bear face extinction. but unfortunately, politics will prevent one of the worlds very few actual experts on the polar bears from making his research known. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/5664069/Polar-bear-expert-barred-by-global-warmists.html this is but one of many of the negative results of the politicians dominating & attempting to suppress knowledge on what should be a purely scientific issue.
3. The truth isn't a simple as some would have you believe. Due to hunting practices, the polar bear population was declining rapidly until a number of countries placed regulation on these practices. Because of these regulations, the polar bear population began to rebound. Some people argue that we shouldn't worry about polar bears because their population is increasing - this has nothing whatsoever to do with climate change. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bear#Contemporary_regulations The reality is that polar bears need sea ice to hunt seals. Obviously if they can't hunt, they starve. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bear#Global_warming In fact the effects of poor nutrition have been observed in several polar bear populations. http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.2193/2006-180 This is because of the rapid decline in Arctic sea ice: http://nsidc.org/data/seaice_index/images/n_plot.png So while the polar bear populations are currently in decent shape, they're listed as threatened because the sea ice they need to hunt is declining rapidly, and we're starting to see the effects in some polar bear populations already.
4. Google "mitchell taylor" and "polar bears" and IPCC and see what you come up with.
5. There are more polar bears now than there were 50 years ago. About 4-5 times more. Talk about a lie within a lie - sheesh!
6. People have found Polar Bears drowned because of the ice has melted where they would usually have went. They hunt seals that are on "pack ice" which has melted due to global warming. The Polar Bears therefore have more trouble to find food. Im not sure if it is in 100yrs they will be extinct, but at this rate, it looks as though they may become extinct in the future.
7. There is about 4 times as many as there were 50 years ago. That is pretty stupid criteria for endangered. They have been moving south which isn't what you would expect from an animal that is being threatened with global warming. We are currently much cooler than we were during most of this interglacial so saying they are endangered is nothing short of asinine.
8. Polar bears need ice to hunt for food, polar bears can drown in water easily is what some scientists say.
9. Hunting and poaching is also a threat to polar bears. By the 1970's hunting and poaching had almost wiped out the polar bears. The populations fell to as low as 10,000 in the entire world. Because of global cooperation (not an easy feat in the midst of the cold war) restrictions on hunting were placed, and polar bear populations have started to make a come back. So, while some polar bear populations are increasing because of restrictions on hunting,[1] almost everyone agrees that, now, the overwhelming threat to polar bear populations is the loss of sea ice.[2][3] The Arctic is expected to be ice free during summer months by mid century. By some accounts this will happen as early as 2013. Polar bears are considered marine animals because of their integral link to the sea and to sea ice. They live much of their lives on the sea ice; it serves as a moving platform from which they hunt seals – the mainstay of their diet.[4][5] Because of loss of arctic sea ice, the US Government, Department of the Interior, predicts that Alaska's entire population of polar bears, along with 2/3 of the world's polar bears will be gone by the middle of the century.[6] Currently, of the 19 polar bear populations, the two which where most affected by over hunting are still recovering. The two most studied populations are known to be declining. And there really isn’t enough information on the 15 other population to determine if the numbers are faring with climate change.