In the context of climate change and shrinking habitats, polar bears are struggling to adapt to new conditions.
John Whiteman, a scientist at Polar Bears International (PBI), explains that this type of injury occurs in a similar scenario to what dogs often face in cold climates.
Large blocks of ice clinging to the feet of a polar bear (Photo: WU).
“Initially, snow gets trapped in the fur on the soles of their feet. Due to body temperature or when the animals move, this layer of ice melts slightly but does not disappear,” Whiteman explains.
“Over time, they accumulate more and more, forming ice blocks that prevent polar bears from running and even make walking difficult.”
The danger is that these blocks of ice do not just get stuck on the bears’ feet; they cling tightly to the skin, causing the bears’ skin to tear when they move.
Kristin Laidre, a marine ecologist, states that this is the first time polar bears are facing such severe injuries, even though their living conditions have been alarming for some time.
“When you touch a bear’s foot, you can clearly feel that they are in excruciating pain,” Kristin Laidre said.
Polar Bears Struggling to Adapt to New Conditions
Scientist John Whiteman mentioned that the phenomenon of “frozen feet” is surprisingly problematic for polar bears, as these animals have evolved to adapt to Arctic living conditions, including swimming frequently even in very cold weather.
However, he added that the Arctic is one of the fastest-warming regions on the planet, and unusual warming events are occurring more frequently.
Such periods can cause seawater to seep upward through the sea ice or result in rainfall instead of snow.
A thin polar bear searching for food on Baffin Island (Canada) captured by a photographer (Photo: Paul Nicklen).
This leads to extensive areas becoming muddy, making it difficult for polar bears to move and increasing the likelihood of “frozen feet.”
The impact of global warming is also making it harder for polar bears to hunt seals, as the extent of melting sea ice increases.
According to researchers, the loss of this nutrition source could lead to numerous issues, affecting the survival and reproductive capabilities of polar bears.
“Polar bears are powerful animals that can adapt to living conditions. But recent images show they are truly struggling with the changes in climate,” Whiteman stated.
In Churchill, a small town in northern Manitoba (Canada), the polar bear population is growing, and they are venturing further inland.
Currently, there are about 600 individuals in this population, compared to just a few dozen bears that appeared a decade ago.
Researchers note that the bears are becoming more proactive, willing to take risks, and approaching humans. This behavior has never been recorded in polar bears before.
However, their hunting skills in terrestrial conditions are still not fully developed, combined with potential threats like human conflict, pollution, and disease… which could pose challenges for this species.
The IUCN estimates that there are currently about 26,000 polar bears worldwide.
But without action to combat climate change, we could lose all but a few small populations of polar bears by the end of this century.
