Wild Animals

Wild Polar Bear Welfare and Sea Ice Loss

Polar bears depend on sea ice as a hunting platform for seals; as Arctic sea ice declines, bears face starvation, increased conflict with humans, and population collapse.

Key Facts

The Arctic is warming 3-4 times faster than the global average
Sea ice loss forces bears to spend longer periods fasting on land
Southern Beaufort Sea polar bear population has declined by 40% since 2004
Polar bears are excellent swimmers but drowning deaths increase with longer open-water gaps
Churchill, Manitoba is the global polar bear capital with management programs for human-bear conflict

Welfare Considerations

Polar bears fasting for months on shore experience physiological stress and behavioral changes that indicate compromised welfare. Cubs born to nutritionally stressed mothers have lower survival rates. Human-bear conflict driven by bears entering settlements while searching for food creates dangerous encounters requiring lethal management. Climate action is the only meaningful long-term welfare intervention for this species.

What You Can Do

Support aggressive climate action as the primary polar bear welfare intervention
Donate to Polar Bears International conservation and research programs
If visiting Churchill, use responsible polar bear tour operators that follow safety protocols
Advocate for Indigenous-led conservation programs that integrate traditional ecological knowledge