Comments on: Close quarters with a cannibal

By: numbuh4

numbuh4 — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 08:47:30 +0000

Researchers recently reported that the rising temperatures, which are causing Arctic ice to melt at an alarming rate, mean the polar bear – a Canadian icon – could be headed for extinction within the next 100 years. The bears are dependent on the ice that covers Arctic waters. That’s where they sniff out seals, who breath through holes in the ice. Polar bears can smell seals, their main food source, from up to a kilometre away.

Now that ice appears to be disappearing. Pictures from space show that roughly 10% of the permanent ice cover is melting every year, and researchers predict that the process is likely to speed up.

That’s because as sea ice melts, it no longer reflects the sun’s heat back into the atmosphere. The water absorbs the heat instead, which means more melting. The bears already appear to be feeling the heat. They have a unique ability to conserve energy for months at a time when they can’t find food. But the melting ice means those periods of starvation are lasting longer and longer for some animals

By: Reace

Reace — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:04:46 +0000

http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arct ic52-3-307.pdf

By: Reace

Reace — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:04:14 +0000

Polar bears have been known to cannibalize each other since at least 1977. To claim it is happening now “more frequently” is pure speculation and unscientific. There is no proof what-so-ever that “man made global warming” caused this polar bear (or any other) to eat the cub.

By: rly

rly — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:46:42 +0000

Mr. Williams is right to assert a connection between the degradation of polar bear habitat and instances of cannibalism. While it is true bears, particularly male bears, are pleased to cannibalize cubs when they can, instances of cannibalism become more common as bears’ ranges decrease. A polar bear cub with a sow protector is a much less convenient meal than an unprotected seal pup: Eating protected cubs entails a high potential for energetic expenditure and threat of injury: bears will eat other bears, but very rarely will they try for large bear.
As bear populations are densified on disappearing or increasingly unreachable floes, and available seal populations dwindle, bears, especially large males, will turn much more determinedly to high risk cannibalism; food scarcity and corresponding territorial aggression make cannibalistic behaviours less opportunistic. Sows and cubs are also afforded less opportunity to avoid large males; bears’ smell is very keen, and normally,with adequate habitat and food resources, the sow would diligently avoid large boar.
Increase in instances of cannibalism is certainly a sign that these bears are experiencing a period of increased stress. Loss of habitat and food supply not only pits bears against one another as they compete for food, but densifies populations, creating situations which foster, and even necessitate, aggressive behaviours.

By: Anaspides

Anaspides — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:18:36 +0000

I am the photographer who took these images.

I wanted to try and document photographically how changing environmental conditions is affecting local wildlife.

It is true that polar bears can and do kill cubs, however, this activity is not frequent. Polar bear scientists have indicated that cases of infanticide are becoming more frequent as sea ice generation is delayed.

The photographs are not meant to indicate or suggest global warming (natural or human-induced) in anyway. Sea ice generation or lack of can be caused by a variety of environmental stimuli. I am not a glaciologist so can not comment on this subject.

The photographs document animal behavior and how animals are altering their behavior to climate-induced conditions. According to polar bear scientists, infanticide is increasing from past years.

It was just coincidence that I discovered the the climate change summit was being held at this time.

I trust this clears up any concerns.

By: QHH

QHH — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:38:53 +0000

Pictures with great impact, really good ones.
But I, too, do not see the relation with Bear’s cannibalism and the global warming.
Studying the subject a bit deeper or asking to bears specialists informations beforehand (or/and after) would have been helpful for this matter.
In Wikipedia it is mentionned that polar bear eats other bears.

But anyway great pictures!!

By: JJ999

JJ999 — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:29:56 +0000

Well, sorry, but the “vast global study” is a crock, then. Human-generated climate change has not turned some polar bears into cannibals. Bears, especially male bears, are naturally cannibalistic, and that includes polar bears. If that study makes such a statement, then it throws the entire study into the probable “crock” category.
And I didn’t quote captions added by Michael Perry, what I quoted was supposedly written by the person taking the photos.

By: vailcowboy

vailcowboy — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:03:56 +0000

Michael Perry, our chief correspondent in Australia, added a caption that referenced a vast global study in 2008. That study, published here, said that human-generated climate change had turned some polar bears into cannibals.

By: JJ999

JJ999 — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:02:42 +0000

ok, let’s try this again.
You say quote”this article is not meant to be in any way a part of the global warming topic”endquote, then why did the photographer say this:
quote”With the climate change conference being held in Copenhagen, I knew the images I had taken were topical and I had minimal time to publish them for maximum impact. The images were posted to my blog and my website after which, I approached Reuters for global syndication.”endquote?
And this:
quote”Before I departed, I knew what I wanted to achieve – images that would help to show the plight of the polar bear in relation to global climate change”endquote.
Sounds like it is supposed to have a LOT to do with that topic.

By: JJ999

JJ999 — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:58:50 +0000