Scientists expected the opposite, but polar bears in the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard have become fatter and healthier since the early 1990s, all while sea ice has steadily declined due to climate change. Polar bears rely on sea ice as a platform from which to hunt the seals that they rely on for blubber-rich meals. The bears' fat reserves provide energy and insulation and allow mothers to produce rich milk for cubs.
Researchers weighed and measured 770 adults in Svalbard between 1992 and 2019 and found that bears had become significantly fatter. They think that Svalbard bears have adapted to recent ice loss by eating more land-based prey, including reindeer and walruses. The discovery, published in Scientific Reports, was particularly puzzling given the impact of climate change in Svalbard.
During the same period, global temperature rise reduced the number of ice-free days per year in the region by nearly 100. Lead researcher Dr. Jon Aars from the Norwegian Polar Institute noted that the fatter a bear is, the better it tends to be. Surprisingly, he would have expected to see a decline in body condition with such profound sea ice loss.
Research indicates that walruses, which have been protected in Norway since the 1950s, are now in larger numbers, thus providing an additional food source. Aars explained that seals congregate in smaller areas when faced with reduced sea ice, which may present easier hunting opportunities for polar bears.
While this situation is currently positive for the bears, researchers doubt its sustainability. Continued decline in sea ice could force bears to travel further for food, risking their fat reserves and overall health. Experts believe these findings may be linked to the polar bear population recovering from near-extinction due to past hunting pressures.
As climate change impacts vary across Arctic regions, it is essential to recognize that long-term survival for polar bears remains contingent on the availability of sea ice. Without intervention or changes in climate trends, the future of these bears remains uncertain.
Researchers weighed and measured 770 adults in Svalbard between 1992 and 2019 and found that bears had become significantly fatter. They think that Svalbard bears have adapted to recent ice loss by eating more land-based prey, including reindeer and walruses. The discovery, published in Scientific Reports, was particularly puzzling given the impact of climate change in Svalbard.
During the same period, global temperature rise reduced the number of ice-free days per year in the region by nearly 100. Lead researcher Dr. Jon Aars from the Norwegian Polar Institute noted that the fatter a bear is, the better it tends to be. Surprisingly, he would have expected to see a decline in body condition with such profound sea ice loss.
Research indicates that walruses, which have been protected in Norway since the 1950s, are now in larger numbers, thus providing an additional food source. Aars explained that seals congregate in smaller areas when faced with reduced sea ice, which may present easier hunting opportunities for polar bears.
While this situation is currently positive for the bears, researchers doubt its sustainability. Continued decline in sea ice could force bears to travel further for food, risking their fat reserves and overall health. Experts believe these findings may be linked to the polar bear population recovering from near-extinction due to past hunting pressures.
As climate change impacts vary across Arctic regions, it is essential to recognize that long-term survival for polar bears remains contingent on the availability of sea ice. Without intervention or changes in climate trends, the future of these bears remains uncertain.
