Polar bears in Southeast Greenland shed light on the species’ future in a warming Arctic

The most genetically isolated population of polar bears on the planet, they have limited access to sea ice and use ice from Greenland’s glaciers to survive

Polar bear in a pool of melted ice — Polar bears in Southeast Greenland survive with limited access to sea ice by hunting from freshwater ice that pours into the ocean from Greenland’s glaciers. (Photo by Thomas W Johansen)

Hannah Hickey | UCSC | June 16, 2022
Scientists have documented a previously unknown subpopulation of polar bears living in Southeast Greenland. The polar bears survive with limited access to sea ice by hunting from freshwater ice that pours into the ocean from Greenland’s glaciers. Because this isolated population is genetically distinct and uniquely adapted to its environment, studying it could shed light on the future of the species in a warming Arctic.
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