The polar bear population is decreasing significantly due to two main factors. Global warming is reducing the amount of sea ice that polar bears rely on for hunting. Hunters also kill polar bears for their fur and fat. If global warming continues unabated, experts believe polar bears will become extinct. Currently there are estimated to be 20,000-25,000 polar bears remaining in the wild. Conservation efforts like donating to polar bear research may help ensure they survive for a long time.