What, pray tell, did the polar bears do to create this friendship? Give us a bottle of Coca-cola(tm)? They are wild animals and we are low fat protein to them.

Now, if you wish to imply that we have an obligation to maintain the sea ice so that they have a place to live, perhaps the phrase "our wards the polar bears" should be used. A thousand pound carnivore is not and never will be my "friend."