From the Archive: Polar Bears

Female polar bear (Ursus maritimus) and two cubs on pack ice, Hinlopen Straight, Spitsbergen/Svalbard, Norway, on 28 July 2007. Polar bears primary habitat of sea ice is threatened due to global warming and rising temperatures in the Arctic regions.

This weeks photo from the archive comes from an ice floe in Hinlopen Straight in the Spitsbergen Islands, an island group north of Norway.

This photo was taken while I was working on the ice breaker the Akademik Sergey Vavilov. Chartered to Peregrine Adventures for polar expedition cruises, I was completing my first three-month trip in the Arctic, working as a guide and Assistant Expedition Leader. Not surprisingly, polar bears are a big drawcard for the people that board the ship every 10-days. Even more so given how threatened bears are due to rising temperatures and increased melting in the Arctic region.

One of the things that fascinates me about polar bears is our relationship to them.

On one hand, polar bears are the top predator in their environment. On the other, they are seen by a lot of people as these beautiful animals that are almost soft and cuddly. The truth is, polar bears are fascinating animals to be around. Polar bears aren’t dangerous to humans, until you put yourself in proximity to one. When you think of it that way, I am inclined to say that humans are dangerous to polar bears.

Personally, I think that polar bears wouldn’t be such a drawcard if you could just walk up to them with no risk of being mauled.

You can learn more about polar bears and conservation efforts at the Polar Bears International site.

[This image can be licensed for usage from Aurora Photos. Just double click on the photo to license it].