Polar bear extinction would have complex effects, though polar bears are not a direct food source for humans.
As apex predators, their loss would remove a vital check on seal populations, potentially disrupting Arctic ecosystems. It would also impact Inuit communities that rely on polar bears culturally and for food security.
Indirectly, ecosystem instability and the loss of an indicator species of climate change could have global consequences. Polar bear extinction would signal broader environmental damage affecting food chains worldwide.