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Polar Bears Getting "Fatter and Healthier" Amid Ice Loss
- Jon Aars and colleagues report in Scientific Reports that Svalbard polar bears have stayed in good condition despite rapid sea ice loss in the Svalbard archipelago, Barents Sea region.
- The Barents Sea around Svalbard has warmed up to 2C per decade and lost sea ice more than twice as fast, increasing ice-free days by around 100.
- Researchers sedated and measured 770 adult polar bears across 1,188 body-measurement records from 1992–2019, using the body composition index to analyze body condition trends.
- Scientists warned that the apparent improvements are likely temporary and that continued sea ice loss could reduce cub survival and reproduction and push bears closer to human communities near the Arctic.
- Researchers attribute the change to population recovery after hunting and increased land-based prey such as reindeer, walrus carcasses and harbour seals.
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In the Arctic islands of Norway they seem to be better despite climate change, but it may not last long.
·Italy
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The Barents Sea near Svalbard has lost sea ice faster than other areas - yet polar bears are gaining weight.
·Denmark
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According to a study published on Thursday, the Ursids of this archipelago have increased their corpulence, resistant better than expected to the accelerated warming of the region. A unique situation while elsewhere in the world these mammals suffer from the melting of ice. But this good news could be of short duration. - At Svalbard, the mystery of polar bears that grow as the ice melts (Environment).
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Total News Sources76
Leaning Left15Leaning Right9Center24Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
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50% Center
L 31%
C 50%
R 19%
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