248 images Created 1 Apr 2021
Svalbard_3
Svalbard is without question the BEST place to find polar bears. Polar bears are hypercarnivorous, meaning they have a diet consisting of more than 70% meat. They have a native range which lies largely within the Arctic Circle. It is the largest bear in the world and is a powerful symbol of the strength and endurance of the Arctic. The latin name, Ursus maritimus, means "sea bear" which is an apt name for the Arctic's top predator because it spends much of its life in and around ocean - predominantly on sea ice. Seals, walruses and birds also use the sea ice in the Arctic. Because of ongoing loss of sea ice resulting from climate change - polar bears are now listed as a threatened species and are considered endangered. Svalbard remains a safe haven for these
Arctic bears from direct threat of man (hunting, poaching), but not entirely as long as their sea ice habitat recedes each year from the changing climate.
Arctic bears from direct threat of man (hunting, poaching), but not entirely as long as their sea ice habitat recedes each year from the changing climate.
