Overview
- The peer-reviewed study in Scientific Reports analyzed measurements from 770 adult polar bears collected between 1992 and 2019, using body fat to gauge condition.
- Across the same period the Barents Sea region saw roughly 100 more ice-free days per year, a shift typically expected to make hunting harder.
- Researchers report the Svalbard population has remained stable despite pronounced sea-ice decline.
- The team cites broader foraging on land—such as reindeer, seabirds and eggs—and scavenging of walrus carcasses, with possibly easier seal hunts where floes are scarce.
- The authors warn that further sea-ice loss could raise energy costs and quickly undo the observed improvements.