Jump Class by Marsel van Oosten

Jump Class by Marsel van Oosten

From mid-June onwards, the Arctic ice cover disappeared at an average rate of 29,000 miles a day, about 70% faster than the typical rate of ice loss. The summer sea ice cover over the Arctic raced towards oblivion in June, crashing through previous records to reach a new all-time low. The Arctic sea ice extent was a staggering 260,000 sq km (100,000 sq miles) below the previous record for June, set in 2010. That means a vast expanse of ice – an area about twice the size of Texas – has vanished over the past 30 years, and the rate of that retreat has accelerated. Polar bears are among the animals most affected by the seasonal and year-to-year decline in Arctic sea ice extent, because they rely on sea ice for essential activities such as hunting, traveling and breeding. Nineteen separate polar bear subpopulations live throughout the Arctic, spending their winters and springs roaming on sea ice and hunting. The bears have evolved mainly to eat seals, which provide necessary fats and nutrients in the harsh Arctic environment. Polar bears can’t outswim their prey, so instead they perch on the ice as a platform and ambush seals at breathing holes or break through the ice to access their dens. Without the sea ice, the bears can’t hunt, and if the bears can’t hunt, their cubs won’t survive. And the polar bear numbers will continue to dwindle. Sea ice is literally their platform for life. This image was shot on our latest Polar Bears of Svalbard tour. We had to sail further north than ever before to get to the sea ice, but eventually we were rewarded with several excellent bear sightings. When we found this particular mother and cub, they had just finished eating a seal. They spent some time close to the kill, and then wandered off. Mum took the lead, and the cub followed – still covered in fresh blood. The ice was melting, so there were pools everywhere that the bears had to cross. Mum led by example. – – – If you would like to explore the landscape and wildlife of Svalbard, and photograph the magnificent polar bear, then this is surely one of the best trips out there. We’ll be sailing on a small ship with an ice-strengthened hull, so we can actually move deep into the sea ice, something that most larger ships can’t. And as we have chartered the ship for just our group, our itinerary is extremely flexible. This amazing tour will be led by world famous Wildlife Photographer of the Year winner Greg du Toit, who is not only a great guy with a very creative eye, but also one of the best wildlife photographers on the planet. If you’re interested, please check out the Polar Bears of Svalbard tour page on our website: www.squiver.com/tours-workshops/svalbard-2017/ Marsel WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER ©2016 Marsel van Oosten, All Rights Reserved. This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.

Marsel van Oosten: Photos