Polar Bear Welfare and Climate Change

Polar bears are increasingly threatened by sea ice loss and climate change, creating welfare impacts through nutritional stress and habitat loss.

Key Facts

Arctic sea ice extent has declined by approximately 13% per decade since 1979
Polar bears depend on sea ice for hunting ringed seals, their primary prey
Extended ice-free periods cause fasting, weight loss, and reduced reproductive success
Human-bear conflict is increasing as bears spend more time near coastal communities
Captive polar bears face welfare challenges from space limitations and heat

Welfare Considerations

Climate change creates a long-term welfare catastrophe for polar bears through progressive nutritional stress as sea ice hunting opportunities decline. Bears that cannot maintain adequate body condition suffer from chronic hunger, fail to reproduce, and experience organ failure as body reserves are depleted. Preventing climate change is the most important action for polar bear welfare, but adaptation management including conflict mitigation protects individual bears short-term.

What You Can Do

Prioritise climate change mitigation through energy choices and advocacy
Support polar bear conservation organisations monitoring population welfare
Donate to research on polar bear climate adaptation
Advocate for Arctic protection policies
Engage with climate advocacy organisations for polar bear conservation