Polar bear numbers are down to 20-25k and are classified as endangered.
Early breakup of the sea ice we have been seeing each year means less hunting time and has meant massive impacts for polar bears - for example, the average weight of female polar bears in western Hudson bay has led the average weight of female polar bears to drop 21% from 1980-2004, and the population of bears in that area dropped 22% between 1987 and 2004.
Similarly, in Alaska there is evidence of more polar bear cubs dying - also caused by the decline in sea ice.
The numbers from the 50s and 60s you rely on to claim polar bear numbers have increased weren't from accurate studies. The number of polar bears haven't increased since then, we just explored more places and found more polar bears than they could find back in the 50s.
