A genetically distinct polar bear population that hunts off freshwater ice has been identified in Greenland, researchers outline in a paper published June 16 in the journal Science. “But that’s not what we saw in this population.They live in an area with lots of glaciers that calve into the ocean, and they can use this ice to catch the seals, even when there’s no sea ice. “And what’s surprising is that in southeast Greenland, this is a separate population.”The researchers used 36 years of data on polar bears, encompassing everything from local knowledge, to movement, genetic, demographic, satellite and observational data. Researchers still don’t know exactly how many of these southeast Greenland bears there are, but their population is small, estimated to be between a few hundred and 1,000, Ugarte said. The study’s findings provide insights to the resiliency of the animals in areas where sea ice disappears.

Source: CBC News June 17, 2022 20:23 UTC