Where are all the seals?

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we went up to 81.2 degrees north looking for polar bears on pack ice. This was my first experience witnessing the polar bear. My first reaction was to mount 600mm lens and grab frame-filling pictures. After the initial excitement, I switched to shorter lenses to capture this magnificent mammal in its glorious but fast disappearing habitat. He had let us observe him in his world, a world that was fragile and threatened by rapid climate change. His future was as precarious and fragile as the ice he walked on. Watching this ace predator pacing on this large drift ice at 81 degrees north, I wondered if he was aware. I imagined a world when these magnificent creatures had plentiful of seals and didn't have to wander for miles and days.

On thin ice

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear at about 81 degrees north. It was looking for food but it had to move carefully on thin ice. Fast melting glaciers and pack ice melting sooner than normal due to climate change have make extinction of this beautiful creature a real threat. His pacing up and down on thin ice had me wondering if he knew what was happening to his habitat. How long had he been out hunting for seals?

End of the line

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear at about 81 degrees north. He was looking for food but he had to move carefully on thin ice. Here he seems disappointed to reach the edge of the ice without finding any food. Fast melting glaciers and pack ice melting sooner than normal due to climate change have make extinction of this beautiful creature a real threat. He looked forlorn upon reaching the edge. Was he aware of how fragile his existence had become. It is amazing to watch how fast he moved on thin ice. This was my first Arctic expedition to see the polar bear in his natural habitat; a few days earlier, we had seen a couple of them on land looking tired and hungry. They were hoping to be lucky for a whale carcass, or else stay hungry until the next freeze up.

A walk in clouds

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear at about 81 degrees north. It was looking for food but it had to move carefully on thin ice. Here seen walking between snow-boulders. Fast melting glaciers and pack ice melting sooner than normal due to climate change have make extinction of this beautiful creature a real threat.

On crumbling ice

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear at about 81 degrees north. He was looking for food but he had to move very carefully on thin ice. I watched him deftly navigate the crumbling ice; he looked fearless and unaware of how threatened his existence had become. Fast melting glaciers and pack ice melting sooner than normal due to climate change have made extinction of this beautiful creature a real threat. Polar bears need pack ice to be able to hunt for seals, their primary food.

On fragile ground

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear at about 81 degrees north. It was looking for food but it had to move very carefully on thin ice. Fast melting glaciers and pack ice melting sooner than normal due to climate change have make extinction of this beautiful creature a real threat. Polar bears need pack ice to be able to hunt for seals, their primary food.

Majestic bear

On an arctic expedition starting from Svalbard, we sailed 81 degrees north to find pack ice and this magnificent male polar bear. The top predator was contemplative and pacing on a floating drift ice. It was amazing to watch how quickly he moved. How many days had he wandered between these icepacks, swimming sniffing, searching for seals? Had he decided to pause for a few moments on this drift ice? I'm sure he was aware of the group of photographers on the zodiac watching his every move. Fast melting glaciers and pack ice melting sooner than normal due to climate change have made extinction of this beautiful creature a real threat.

Rug pulled out from under

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear at about 81 degrees north. It was looking for food but it had to move very carefully on thin ice. Polar bears need platform of pack ice to be able to hunt for seals, their primary food. Fast melting glaciers and pack ice melting sooner than normal due to climate change have make extinction of this beautiful creature a real threat.

Wouldn’t you please help?

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear at about 81 degrees north. Fast melting glaciers and pack ice melting sooner than normal due to climate change have make extinction of this beautiful creature a real threat. Here the napping polar bear appears to be pleading/praying for our help. We are his last recourse. Did he gaze in silent retribution as he gently lowered his head onto his paws? Giant paws that could snatch an elusive seal.

Contemplation

Where has all the pack ice gone? On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear at about 81 degrees north; moments of Zen in desert arctic wilderness. The serene waters lapped with silent rhythmic beat against the thin ice that he paced. Eventually he came to the edge and sat down in contemplation. For a few moments I stopped shooting and joined him in silent camaraderie. His future was in our hands. Fast melting glaciers and pack ice melting sooner than normal due to climate change have make extinction of this beautiful creature a real threat.

Help! Help me please

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear at about 81 degrees north. My time with this magnificent creature that plays a dominant role in the eco system that we fail to comprehend. Fast melting glaciers and pack ice melting sooner than normal due to climate change have make extinction of this beautiful creature a real threat. His future is in our hands.

Warmth in Arctic

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear pair of mother and daughter at about 81 degrees north. Mama had chosen this spot on a mound of ice that looked like clouds. She and her daughter were probably really tired after their long wanderings and decided to take rest. Occasionally Mama would sit up and survey their peaceful surroundings. Baby looked impatient to get back into her warmth. This proud mother had done her job well; her baby looked well-fed resting in a safe spot.

Arctic Angels

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear pair of mother and daughter at about 81 degrees north, perched on a mound of ice. We observed them for a few hours giving warmth to each other. Hours later, I still hadn’t had enough of my fill of them. Mamma lifted her head and struck a contemplative pose. She gazed ahead; baby rested her head in companionable silence. Intimate moments between mother and daughter on the soft clouds of ice; it looked like a marshmallow filling in between the blue sky and water. The sublime feeling of contentment wafted through the pure clean arctic air. This proud mother had done her job well; her baby looked well-fed resting in a safe spot

Arctic Heaven

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear pair of mother and daughter at about 81 degrees north, perched on a mound of ice. We observed them for a few hours giving warmth to each other. This proud mother had done her job well; her baby looked well-fed resting in a safe spot.

Floating on ice

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear pair of mother and daughter at about 81 degrees north, perched on a mound of ice. We observed them for a few hours giving warmth to each other. This proud mother had done her job well; her baby looked well-fed resting in a safe spot.

Mom and daughter

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear pair of mother and daughter at about 81 degrees north, perched on a mound of ice. We observed them for a few hours giving warmth to each other. Their imprint on the ice would forever be etched on my mind. It reinforced the urgency of their vulnerability to the negative impact human actions

Polar bear and daughter

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear pair of mother and daughter at about 81 degrees north, perched on a mound of ice. We observed them for a few hours giving warmth to each other. Here seen with their tongues hanging out. Would the sounds of crackling ice from the edges rise to a crescendo of awareness to their fragile existence?

View from top

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear pair of mother and daughter at about 81 degrees north, perched on a mound of ice. We observed them for a few hours giving warmth to each other. We listened to the melting crackle of the ice mass as the golden light from the midnight sun wrapped them both in a gentle embrace.

Proud mom

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear pair of mother and daughter at about 81 degrees north, perched on a mound of ice. We observed them for a few hours giving warmth to each other. Here mom looks adoringly at her daughter. Her future is at stake due to their shrinking habitat, and momma can only do so much. This was a sneak peak into a world of parenting and nurturing, the proud predator simultaneously diligent and indulgent.

Under the mid-night sun

On an arctic expedition from Svalbard, we spotted this polar bear pair of mother and daughter at about 81 degrees north, perched on a mound of ice. We observed them for a few hours giving warmth to each other. The Artic silence under the midnight sun cast a heavenly glow on this sleepy mother and daughter. This picture was evocative of the emotions of wonder and gratitude it stirred within me.