“The extraordinary long distance swimming ability of polar bears, which we confirm here, may help them cope with reduced Arctic sea ice. Our observation, however, indicates that long distance swimming in Arctic waters, and travel over deep water pack ice, may result in high energetic costs and compromise reproductive fitness."
The story is very impressive. And sad. I'm surprised at the amount of energy a bear can expend trying to find food. Hopefully, this swimming behavior will help the species survive as more ice melts in the future.
Articles like these provide hope as well as express the urgency to change the habits we humans have created. I'm hopeful that maybe the polar bears (and other beings affected by the destructive human lifestyle) can adapt and learn to survive. We also need to learn how to change our ways and respect all life.
you posted an article awhile ago about the mama polar bears taking on the babys to keep warm.
ReplyDeletei hope they survive. i can't imagine swimming that long.