Polar Bears - Data, Pictures and Videos

[Polar]

Update: Collared Bear

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

The Southern Beaufort Sea is unbelievably big—more than the size of seven New Jerseys. Details...
© Daniel J. Cox/Natural Exposures.com

Monday, November 16, 2015 - 14:06
"Several people have contacted us about a photo of a large polar bear with a collar that is clearly too tight. The image was reportedly taken near Kaktovik, Alaska, at a site where groups of polar bears have been gathering in recent years to feast on the remains of bowhead whale carcasses. This area has become unique in the Arctic for having predictable and substantive remains from whales taken by subsistence hunters—producing some of the largest bears seen anywhere.
When we learned of the situation, we reached out to management authorities in northern Alaska to learn more and see what might be done to help. We discovered that federal authorities in both the U.S. and Canada, along with university research partners, had already been notified and were actively working on a response to hopefully locate the bear and remove the collar.
While it may sound simple, the logistics, skills, and regulations surrounding wildlife capture in the Arctic are quite challenging. Wildlife capture work in general has inherent risks as it requires low level and very technical flying skills and accurate darting ability. In the U.S., federal agencies have very specific requirements for both aircraft and pilots involved in capture work. Locating a certified helicopter paired with a certified pilot and getting both to the North Slope of Alaska with certified and permitted capture pilots is no quick or easy task.
By the time the information was given to the correct authorities and they were able to verify the situation on the ground and begin a response, the sea ice had returned to the area and the bears had largely departed. The collared bear hasn’t been seen since that time and is unlikely to return to shore until the ice melts again next summer. There is a high probability it will return to Kaktovik next summer to feed on whale carcasses again, giving authorities a better chance to remove the collar—unless it has already fallen off on its own (each collar is equipped with a release mechanism, although this one appears to have failed along with its transmitter).
What can be done in the meantime? As long as the bear remains on the ice, finding it is next to impossible. The Southern Beaufort Sea is unbelievably big—more than the size of seven New Jerseys—and polar bears often have enormous home ranges. The best hope is that the collar finally falls off on its own or that the bear is sighted and reported to authorities.
We wish there were an easy answer to this complex problem. We can report, however, that the fact that the bear hasn’t been found yet isn’t due to a lack of will by all involved.
“Fortunately, injuries from collars are very rare around the Arctic and across bear species,” said Geoff York, our senior director of conservation, “but scientists need to do all they can to ensure the safety of the bears. The situation in Kaktovik—where polar bears put on an enormous amount of weight from feasting on whale carcasses—is a fairly new phenomenon. Given what scientists have learned about the rapid weight gain of bears in that area, they will need to make adjustments in procedures and/or collar technology to make sure this never happens again.”
PBI is actively talking to research partners to explore ways to help improve collar design, materials, and release mechanisms. While tracking information provides vital insights into polar bear conservation, scientists are also looking at alternative methods to gather information on this species that lives much of its life out of human sight.
Rest assured we are aware of this situation and share concerns about the welfare of this bear—and will provide updates as we learn more."

There are much less prey items in the Arctic now than there were in the 60s or 1000s. The polar bears consume as much as possible these days (hence the "new phenomenon")  to keep energy for a longer period of time as well as to keep hunger away. They never know when they'll get their next prey. Most of these preys remain unequally scattered throughout the Arctic, and thus results in a lesser weight and more aggression/competition over prey among modern polar bears. I just wish the Pleistocene was today, so I could see the most massive polar bears as an average population. Also, I really don't support collars for this species since it restricts their neck's range of motion, the neck being one of it's most important tools for flexibly catching seals and other prey. Reply