Polar bears face existential threats from sea ice loss driven by climate change, with individual welfare deteriorating as hunting conditions and denning habitat become increasingly unreliable.
Individual polar bear welfare is deteriorating as sea ice loss forces longer fasting periods, longer swims between ice platforms, and reduced hunting success. Female polar bears denning in reduced snowpack experience lower cub survival rates. Polar bears that approach human communities seeking food face conflict and often lethal management. The welfare crisis of polar bears cannot be separated from the climate crisis - meaningful welfare improvement requires addressing the root cause of sea ice loss.