Scientists have captured photographic evidence of polar bears catching and eating white-beaked dolphins. This never-before-documented occurrence is considered to be a possible repercussion of climate change, specifically in that the dolphins are thought by scientists to have strayed too far north and become stranded in the ice.
The theory is posited in a study by Jon Aars of the Norwegian Polar Institute, which was recently published in the June 1, 2015 volume of science journal Polar Research. Aars and team initially recorded the phenomenon on April 23, 2014 in Svalbard, Norway. A quote from the study reads as follows:
“White-beaked dolphins are frequent visitors to Svalbard waters in summer, but have not previously been reported this far north in early spring. We suggest they were trapped in the ice after strong northerly winds the days before, and possibly killed when forced to surface for air at a small opening in the ice.”
Read more from their research and see additional photographs and graphics here.
Via io9 | Image: Polar Research
Newest 3 Comments
*facepalm*
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)
So...you're saying climate change isn't real, aren't you?
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)
Just a lucky (not for the dolphin) hit by the polar bear. They target seals using this method and have always done so. Grey object pops up through the hole, polar bear grabs it. Dolphins or seals it's all the same to a polar bear. Dolphins get lost, trapped, beached, disoriented and die regularly. They usually travel in groups and if they got trapped by the ice there's little option but to come to the only opening in the ice they can get to. The bear just waits.
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)