The Welfare of Polar Bears Under Climate Pressure

Climate change is reducing Arctic sea ice, creating a survival and welfare crisis for polar bears.

Key Facts

Arctic sea ice is declining at approximately 13% per decade
Polar bears depend on sea ice to hunt seals — their primary food source
Body condition of Hudson Bay polar bears has declined significantly since the 1980s
Some populations are experiencing increased cub mortality from inadequate maternal nutrition

Welfare Considerations

Polar bear welfare is increasingly compromised by climate-driven sea ice loss. Bears spend longer periods fasting on land without sea ice to hunt from, depleting body fat reserves. Pregnant females enter maternity dens with inadequate fat reserves, producing cubs with lower birth weights and higher mortality. The suffering of individual polar bears — starvation, failed reproduction, and physiological stress from inadequate nutrition — is real and increasing. Addressing polar bear welfare therefore requires the same fundamental action as addressing polar bear conservation: reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

What You Can Do

Support aggressive climate action as the foundational polar bear welfare intervention
Support research into polar bear welfare and population health monitoring
Reduce personal carbon footprint as a contribution to Arctic ice preservation
Engage with the intersection of climate change and animal welfare in advocacy