Polar bears are iconic sentinels of Arctic climate change, with welfare impacts from sea ice loss including starvation, increased conflict, and population fragmentation.
Polar bears experiencing extended fasting periods suffer from progressive starvation, with cubs most vulnerable to starvation-related mortality. Bears in poor body condition who enter human settlements face additional welfare harms - stress from capture, holding in bear jails, and aversive conditioning. Physical confrontations with humans can result in injury to both bears and people, ending in lethal removal of bears. The scale and irreversibility of climate-driven sea ice loss means polar bear welfare will continue deteriorating without ambitious global climate action.