My first Polar Bear!
Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) ranges across the Arctic Ocean & neighboring land masses. They are supremely adapted for surviving in extreme cold conditions & although nearly all Polar Bears are born on land, most spend nearly all of their lives out on the pack ice.
Somewhere there is a Polar Bear in this photo!
My first bear was spotted in a flurry of snow,
which made viewing difficult!
Their Latin name means maritime bear. They are totally adapted for living on pack ice, where they hunt their main food source, seals. Polar Bears can go for several months without eating, just living off their fat reserves. Because of their dependence on ice, they are classified as marine mammals.
They cover a lot of ground with this
steady walk of theirs.
steady walk of theirs.
Always sniffing the air for potential food.
They check & look into everything.
Very athletic, wouldn't want to meet
one of these on the ice!
one of these on the ice!
Very much at home in the water!
It swam across a 500 m wide patch
of sea amid the ice, then just jumped out
back onto the next piece of ice!
of sea amid the ice, then just jumped out
back onto the next piece of ice!
They just plough up anything,
they look unstoppable!
they look unstoppable!
Climate change is affecting bears greatly. The ice is both getting thinner & is less extensive than in previous years. In the more southerly parts of its range bears wait for months for the ice to form before they can once more go back out on the ice & sea. Polar Bear is classified as a vulnerable species because of climate change.
It is difficult to assess the population of Polar Bears because they range in areas where humans do not normally venture. Apparently they are rare north of 88 degrees north & most of their range is in the ten degrees below this band. In Svalbad the population is estimated to be around 2,500 animals.
You are not allowed to approach a bear in a ship,
so it is a matter of chance if the bear
comes to investigate the ship.
I thought this individual was looking for seals,
but it wasn't!
There were around 50 Belugas in the sea close by.
Here the bear is swimming with the whales!
It was definitely interested but didn't
have much of a chance really!
This was the my main reason for visiting Svalbad
& although I didn't get up close & personal,
it was an amazing experience.
This is a different individual, photos taken to show
the immensity of the landscape.
the immensity of the landscape.
Very iconic, if distant!
Following a Pink footed Goose!
This was our best & closest views.
so it is a matter of chance if the bear
comes to investigate the ship.
but it wasn't!
have much of a chance really!
& although I didn't get up close & personal,
it was an amazing experience.
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