Das Wunder in der Arktis
Mar 4th, 2009 | By mervi | Category: Featured articles02.03.2009 by Dorothee Teves, Sent by UliS
Die letzten 22.000 Eisbären Kämpfen um ihr Leben
„Wir haben einen Eisbären geortet.“ Scheppernd dröhnt die Stimme des Piloten über Funk: „John es ist ein Weibchen – sie hat zwei Junge bei sich. Sie treiben auf einer riesigen Eisscholle ins offene Meer hinaus.“ Rund 200 Kilometer entfernt, in einem kleinen Büro in der kanadischen Arktis, schließt John Braxley die Augen: zwei Junge. Der forscher schüttelt den Kopf. Er weiß: Noch bevor der Herbst einzieht, werden die Jungen tot sein.
Seit drei Jahren untersucht John Braxley die Auswirkungen der Klimaerwärmung. „Als ich hierher kam“, sagte er, wollte ich professionell vorgehen. Wissenschaftlich distanziert. Dann begegnete ich dem ersten Eisbären meines Lebens – und ich wusste, von diesem Moment an, würde mein Herz entscheiden“. Der Eisbär, den Braxley an jenem Tag sieht, schleppt sich mit letzter Kraft über das Eis, die Augen glasig vor Hunger. „Ich sah den König der Arktis – und er lag im Sterben.“ Sagte der Forscher. Er lernt – dass das, was er als Katastrophe der Zukunft eingestuft hat – die globale Erwärmung – für die Eisbären längst zum tödlichen Alltag geworden ist: „Die Temperaturen sind um fünf Grad gestiegen – das Packeis schmilzt“, sagt er. Die Tiere treiben auf Schollen ab, werden von ihren Jagdgründen abgeschnitten. Dadurch können sie sich nicht mehr genügend Fettreserven anfressen – und verenden elendig“. Praktisch über Nacht wurden die Eisbären zur bedrohten Art – nicht einmal die Hälfte aller Neugeborenen überleben heute noch den ersten Winter. Vielleicht ist es dieser Punkt, der Braxley handeln lässt: „Sie hat zwei Junge“, denkt er. „Zwei Junge, deren Leben nicht umsonst sein darf“. Er weiß, allein können die Tiere nicht zurückschwimmen und per Hubschrauber nicht transportiert werden. Aber wenn man die Eisscholle selbst transportiert …?
Drei Tage später landet ein kleines Flugzeug am Rande der kanadischen Arktis. An seinem Rumpf ist eine abenteuerliche Konstruktion aus Stahlseilen befestigt, deren Enden tief in einer Eisscholle verankert sind. Einer schmelzenden Eisscholle, die 320 Kilometer zurück an Land gezogen wurde. Auf ihr dösen, ermattet von Betäubungsschüssen, drei Eisbären. Es ist die erste Rettungsaktion dieser Art. Ein wahnwitziges Manöver, das der Welt in einem einzigen Augenblick den Überlebenskampf der Eisbären offenbart.
Dorothee Teves
The miracle in the Arctic
The last 22.000 polar bears are battling for their life
“We located a polar bear.” The voice of the pilot dins over the radio: “John it is a female – she has two cubs with her. They are drifting on a big ice floe in the direction to the open sea.” About 200 km away in a little office in the Canadian Arctic John Braxley closes his eyes: two cubs. The scientist is shaking his head. He knows: even before the autumn is coming the cubs will be dead.
Since three years John Braxley examines the effects of climate warm up. “When I first came here”, he says, “I wanted to act professional. Scientifically and with distance. Than I met the first polar bear in my life – and I knew from this very moment, that my heart would decide”. The polar bear, Braxley observes on this day, is dragging himself with the last of his strength over the ice blearly eyed because of hunger. “I saw the king of the Arctic – and he was close to death” the scientist says. He learns – that what he thought was the disaster of the future – the global warming – was already every days life for the polar bears: ”the temperature rised by 5° – the pack ice is melting. The animals are carried away on the ice floes are marooned from their hunting grounds. That´s why they cannot eat enough fat on storage – and die miserably”. Practically over night the polar bears became an endangered species – not even half of the newborns survives today the first winter. Maybe this is the point which lets Braxley act: ”She has two cubs” he thinks. “two cubs whose life should be not for nothing.” He knows that the animals can´t swim back by them selves and cannot be transported by helicopter. But how about transporting the ice floe itself…..?
Three day later a small airplane is landing on the edge of the Canadian Arctic. On his fuselage there is fixed an adventures construction of steel, whose ends are anchored deep in an ice floe. A melting ice floe which was pulled for 320 km back to the land. On it, languished because of the anesthesia shots, 3 polar bears. The first rescue operation of this kind. A crazy maneuver, which shows to the whole world within one moment the struggle for survival of the polar bears.
Dorothee Teves
Translation into English by Brit
Jahr 2004 Nr.34
The devotion and dedication of these heroes hold me in awe. I wonder when humanity will wake and realise that these are the real men and women, the real heroes who deserve more resources, accolades and encouragement – not basketball players, or rappers or movie stars or models – but these incredibly brave and wholesome people who are keeping this world in one piece. I bow to John Braxley and the others who work relentlessy on missions of mercy – you are my heroes and the light of this world. We wouldn’t make it without you. Thank you! How can we ever repay you? Can someone please let Mr Braxley know how we feel?
I agree with the wise words of Celine. They are men as Mr Braxley that bring us some hope that nor everything is lost. Thank you Mr Braxley, you have my respect and admiration.
Celinne, again I am nodding my head in total agreement with what you have written. That’s right, accolades and vast sums of money are paid to celebrities and sports players. I imagine Mr Braxley has to beg for funding,like most scientists and researchers. Who is really making a difference in this world, rather than just providing entertainment?
Three polar bears saved- this news warms my heart and brings hope that we can and we must do everything possible to help polar bears from extinction.
I second your thoughts Celinne.
Luisa, Paula and Leaf, whatever little we can do to change that old order of priority, should be done. Many people feel the same way but the media doesn’t really monitor public opinion in a scientific way. They go by old reference points from the 80′s and continue to highlight the frivolous and trivial because they are too lazy to delve deeper into the collective psyche of humanity. One university lecturer now refers to them as the “idiot media” because they are so out of touch with the majority of their readers/listeners/viewers. Their unending coverage of the movie stars, sportspeople, Octomom and models etc is the reason why these folks are able to land huge contracts and sponsorships, most of them are quite ordinary people with no special ability – Just think of what could be accomplished if the media devoted the same attention to heroes like Mr Braxley. They would attract enough resources to help many more animals and inspire others to do the same. It is always a good idea to remind the media that we want more meaningful coverage of important issues.
Celinne, Paula, Leaf – Isn’t it great that there are so many unknown heroes in the world. I agree that they shouldn’t be anonymous! They deserve every attention in the media. Maybe we should write to the papers and ask them to publish more articles about these heroes. If people told they want to read more about polar bears (and all animals) than about Paris Hilton and others who never done anything but born rich….
Mervi,
You are so right. Just knowing that such remarkable heroes like Mr Braxley exists warms my heart. I will continue to lobby the media for more coverage of these unselfish rescue efforts. This is one of the reason why I follow up Knuti so closely and have him on Google alerts. (The other reason of course is because he’s sooooooo sweet) This is to inform the web bots of my interest. I am always among the folks who comment on animal welfare projects. Whatever more that can be done, I am willing to do it in the name of love. YouTube is also a great, inexpensive way to attract attention and possible grants if someone close enough to the cause can do a simple video and post it. All Knutians will support and direct traffic to the video.