Polar bears depend entirely on sea ice to access their primary prey — ringed seals. Accelerating Arctic sea ice loss is the most critical welfare threat to polar bears globally.
Polar bear welfare is in measurable decline as sea ice loss extends the annual fasting period. Bears ashore cannot access their energy-dense seal prey and must fast, drawing on fat reserves accumulated during the winter and spring hunting season. As the fasting period extends, bears enter autumn in poorer body condition — females have reduced energy for pregnancy and cub rearing, cubs born to depleted mothers have lower survival rates, and adult bears show increased stress behaviours including increased human-bear conflict as hungry bears approach settlements. Drowning during extended swims as ice retreats is documented. The welfare trajectory is clearly negative and climate-driven. Unlike most animal welfare problems, this one cannot be addressed through management interventions — only rapid climate action to slow sea ice loss can protect polar bear welfare long-term.