2016-09-22

As the distance between the coast and sea ice around Svalbard increases, pregnant polar bears on the drift ice face a major challenge - how do they get back to land in time to dig a maternity den?

N26243, aka Isdimma3, spent about spending about two and a half months in the drift ice this summer. By July, the distance between land and ice was quite significant. Luckily, she managed to reach the coast by moving on very loose drift ice and swimming long distances.

It must be important for her to get onto land, say the researchers, since her hunting opportunities would probably be better out on the ice. It's possible that she's looking for a suitable denning location, and staying with the ice would jeopardize her chances to reach land later in the fall.

Animals in this region (See all)

All species