Mammals

Polar Bear Welfare: Climate Change as an Animal Welfare Crisis

Polar bears are experiencing profound welfare crises as climate change melts sea ice, their essential hunting platform.

Key Facts

Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt ringed seals, their primary food
Sea ice extent has declined 13% per decade since satellite records began
Bears are spending 30+ more days on land fasting compared to 1980s
Body condition scores of Hudson Bay polar bears have declined significantly
Some bears are turning to garbage dumps and human food sources in desperation

Welfare Considerations

Prolonged fasting causes acute physiological suffering. Bears are documented dying of starvation, especially cubs and older individuals. Bears that approach human settlements face lethal removal. The scale of this climate-driven welfare crisis dwarfs almost any other single cause of wild animal suffering. Captive polar bears in most zoos also suffer from heat stress and inadequate enrichment.

What You Can Do

Reduce your personal carbon footprint through diet, transport, and energy choices
Support climate policy advocacy organizations
Choose zoos with accredited polar bear welfare programs over those without
Donate to Polar Bears International and Sea Legacy
Advocate for urgent climate policy through political engagement