What Would You Do For a Klondike Bear?

When you're the largest predator on land, you're not likely to get a lot of sympathy, especially from smaller, more crunchable organisms such as humans. Unlike Pandas, those cuddly balls of furry reproductive ineptitude, Polar Bears don't really come off as “needy” or “helpless,” so much as “huge” and “terrifying.” Much like wolves, sharks, snakes and other predators, we humans have evolved to find such creatures inherently threatening, thus allowing our forefathers to survive to reproductive age and eventually beget all of us.

Most of us, though, no longer face the threat of predation from other species as part of our daily lives. We have developed other worries, like credit ratings and the outcome of hockey games. In fact, for the great majority of us, the greatest threat we face in any given day is posed by other humans, such as drunk drivers, muggers or investment bankers. These days, when we say that “the wolf is at the door,” it is very rarely meant literally.

Like the Polar Bear, humans, too are top predators. As a race, we show a great talent for it, even inventing mechanical devices that allowed us to prey on creatures larger, faster and stronger than ourselves. Over the years, we've become so adept at this mechanized predation, that the only predator who poses a true threat to us any longer is ourselves.

Thus, as the Head of the Top Predator Club, we have the duty – a sort of noblesse oblige -  to be concerned about the fate of the other members. More than that, it is in our own best self interest to do so. That which threatens the Polar Bears is also a threat to us: a rapidly changing environment leading to the loss of habitat sufficient to sustain our numbers.  

Unless you have been hiding under a rock or watching nothing but Fox News, by now you are well aware of the fact of Global Weirding as well as the steps you should be taking to help ameliorate it: driving less, recycling more, investing in sustainable food, power and transportation. Even if you are one of those who doubts the severity and/or cause of recent climate change, ask yourself what harm it would do to take steps to reduce your footprint? Even if you feel that conservation is simply a sign of personal virtue, do you not feel personally compelled to be a virtuous person?

As for the classic question, there is very little I would do for a Klondike Bar, as opposed to Häagen-Dazs, for which there is little I would not do, including walking the one mile round trip to the grocery store.


Today's exercise: Ask yourself, what will you do?

Next: In Defense of Serpents: a meditation on St. Patrick's Day.