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Warning: This article contains an image of a feeding animal that some readers might prefer not to see.
FOR THE FIRST time ever, scientists have seen polar bears eating dolphins in the Arctic.
And they’re blaming global warming.
Polar bears feed mainly on seals, but Jon Aars at the Norwegian Polar Institute has photographed dolphins being devoured by a bear.
It is likely that new species are appearing in the diet of polar bears due to climate change because new species are finding their way north.
The first incident he documented was in April 2014, when his team came across a polar bear feeding on the carcasses of two white-beaked dolphins, as described in the latest edition of the journal Polar Research.
Although dolphins are regularly seen in the Norwegian Arctic in the summer months when the ice has melted, they have never been seen during winter or spring when the sea is usually still covered in sheets of ice.
Aars said the bear he photographed (above) had probably caught the two dolphins when they surfaced to breathe through a tiny hole in the ice.
Even if they saw the bear, the dolphins did not necessarily have any other choice.
In one of the photos, a visibly skinny old male bear devours one of the dolphins and appeared to have stored a second one under snow for later, something which the scientists had never seen before.
We think that he tried to cover the dolphin in snow in the hope that other bears, foxes or birds would have less of a chance of finding it.
Maybe to be able to eat it a day or two later, once he had digested the first one.
After the first incident in 2014, a further five cases of dolphins stranded or captured and then eaten by bears have been reported.
“I don’t think that this signifies a great upheaval” in the diet of the carnivores, said Aars.
It’s just that the polar bear is coming into contact with species they have not been used to meeting until now.
Contains reporting by AFP.
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We’re all f¥cked!
There coming for you next
Unless the likes of the U.S., China and India curb their emissions not much the rest of us can do!
The ~ four million inhabitants of Ireland have the same environmental impact as the 400 million poorest people on the planet. We have much more room to act than the poor of India.
Well said.
+ who buys all the stuff from China?
We do !!!!!
Yes Mac that’s why our high carbon taxes are sorting all scam mongering out!
Even if they did we are entirely at the mercey of the planet when it comes to heating and cooling, curbing emmission and limiting the human impact on climate change is all well and good but the fact remains that ultimetly there are factors that influence our climate that we cannot control.
Shocking arguement
Hold on, Ireland emits about 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents per person each year, which is more than twice the corresponding figure for China and some 10 times the estimate for India.
Mmm they are bears , they will eat any beast it can get its claws into.
I think you’re somewhat missing the point Martin…
We need to look after out world and country much better!
Let’s start with Ireland so.
How , show us the way Eamon , show us the way.
I went on a date recently with a Dolphin …
We just clicked .
Climate change scientists are becoming increasingly desperate , polar bears have always scavenged carcasses of beached Dolphins,these scientists pop out into the field now and again and this is all new to them so they draw their own inevitable self serving conclusions .
Mmmmmm bacon
Mmmmmm Alcohol
Haha
Mmmmmm flipper ……..
I don’t know much about polar bears and I’m not a scientist but I spent about 5 minutes researching the diet of polar bears.
For example, I googled “polar bear eating dolphins” and set the date range to before 2010 and there is nothing explaining this behaviour.
Either Mick Bacon provides evidence to back up his claim that this behaviour was always common among polar bears or he should be ignored.
bacon though. mmmmm
He should be ignored
Google “norwegian scientists are lazy and don’t ride on the backs of polar bears enough to see what they are eating every day “.
so am I right in guessing that you just made up the statement, for whatever reason, that polar bears have always been eating dolphins?
mick bacon believes he knows more than documented science. The ignorance of it all is unbelievable
Mick, wow, it’s now 8.45am and you have 73 green thumbs for that comment. There are 74 (you included) dumb ass€s after viewing your comment.
Maybe polar bears are just jerks….
Its the bear necessities the simple bear necessities of life.
Ah I get it…had to paws there for a second
The Earth’s climate has been changing forever. Man’s arrogance, and lots of well-funded questionable computer models, demands that it never changes from what we – right now – are comfy with.
This is the new religion. It will pass.
Sure, show me when global temperature has changed this much in 200 years?
Are you 250 years old.?
Are you 4 years old?
what do you supposed caused the ice ages to begin and end? villagers burning too much wood.
Good point Joseph but not before billions have been scammed because of this new religion…
The irony of denialists ignoring all scientific evidence in favour of some vague belief based on nothing more than a gut feeling, then accusing the scientists of being a religion!!
Avian, “Denialists”? Pathetic. Not denying climate change, it is as old as the Earth. Merely severely questioning the man-made bunkum spouted about it by those who rely on it being man made for their livelihood. We are climate change realists, if we must have a title.
I agree Joseph, climate change is as old as the earth, but to the best scientific evidence we have available to us it has never changed as fast as its changing now – none of the natural cycles and influences that we know of can explain what’s happening now.
This is a pretty basic and fundamental point that seems to be lost on you and others like you.
*unless of course you have bona fide counter-evidence you’d like to post, which I shall read with interest….
Avian, correct; we do not understand so rely on computer models that, of necessity, contain bias….whether intentional or not.
Computer modelling is not neutral.
What you’re failing to mention is that many of the computer models have UNDERestimated the degree of observed warming.
Avian, interesting article but not sure you will find it credible due to the site it was posted on.
The issue of “observations” is a whole different ball of wax and you need to do some research on the history of numbers, and locations, of monitoring stations and see how their numbers have reduced and the locations of those remaining has, in more than a few cases, helped to skew results.
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2015/06/07/an-it-experts-view-on-computer-modelling/
There are a lot more people who rely on it not being man made for their livelihood. They also tend to be well funded.
Spot on Windywoo – a quick google of the heartland institute should be an eye opener for many.
That would make some episode of Flipper!
With the theme tune from Platoon!
the manmade global warming theory is falling apart. the science is fudged and data is manipulated to fit their model.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/clarifications-corrections/526191/Climate-change-is-a-lie-global-warming-not-real-claims-weather-channel-founder
mankind has little or no effect on global climate change. climate change has been happening since the beginning of time, its closely related to the sun and solar activity. the green card is a big money business nowadays with the market worth billions. scientific studies that point out the bs of climate change will not get funded and any work done will not get published in scientific journals. there is big money in the climate change lie.
the article claims that “scientists claim”………….what type of scientists..astro physicists, biomedical engineers etc. etc. it is very vague. were these scientists climatologists? the images of the dead dolphins are designed to play on peoples emotions. if the dolphins were breeding through a small hole, how the hell did the polar bear get them through the thick ice.
it makes no sense.
I am sorry to break it to you John but linking to an Express article invalidates any possible argument you may have unless your argument is “for a laugh, look at what lowest grade tabloid garbage the express is pushing now”
Express articles.lol
The funniest thing is, these people don’t even seem to know how ridiculous they are
“if the dolphins were breeding through a small hole, how the hell did the polar bear get them through the thick ice.
it makes no sense.” – that’s precisely how polar bears hunt – they hang around breathing holes and grab seals when they surface to breathe. They have longer snouts and necks than other bears and massively powerful hind legs, meaning they are perfectly designed for this method of hunting.
The source of this article is John Coleman, who has close links to the Heartland Institute. He recognises that he is unqualified, but says that he bases his views on the NIPCC (which was a creation of the Heartland Institute). You couldn’t make this stuff up!
http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/2013/09/09/heartland-institute-nipcc-fail-the-credibility-test/
Dolphins in the Arctic? Give me a break……Scam mongering at it’s finest. You can put up a picture of anything with a bs byline. There is a huge reason global warming suddenly became “climate change” as it is an all encompassing bull$hit!
It’s a long time since I read such a ridiculous headline when it comes to global warming. hmmm or is it? remember crushing mac d’s burger cartons in the 80′s …stop him, he’ll kill us all ahhhhhh
Can’t believe so many people on this article are questioning global warming. Genuinely WTF
Just like the tobacco lobby, powerful vested interests (mainly the fossil fuel lobby) have set out on a deliberate and sustained campaign to try and discredit the genuine science and muddy the waters on climate change. You can’t blame the average punter in the street with no scientific background for falling for it….
Or govts around the world just found a handy new tax…. Carbon Taxes, that will save the climate for sure
Nonsense from you as usual Leaf. Go talk to a real scientist
“Real scientist” huh? Okaaaayyyyy…
You’re the one having a laugh right?
“The Great Global Warming Swindle is the Expelled of global warming (AGW), i.e. the go-to film for denialist propagandists. It rolls most of the popular points refuted a thousand times into a sixty minute-plus “documentary,” so, if anything, it’s a good watch in terms of seeing how deniers cherry-pick, distort, and fabricate “facts” in order to “debunk” climate change. Hint: It’s not too different from creationist techniques.”
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/The_Great_Global_Warming_Swindle
You know, you really don’t have to dig very deep to expose this denialist propaganda junk for what it is.
“Real scientist” huh? Okaaaayyyyy…
You’re the one having a laugh right?
“The Great Global Warming Swindle is the Expelled of global warming (AGW), i.e. the go-to film for denialist propagandists. It rolls most of the popular points refuted a thousand times into a sixty minute-plus “documentary,” so, if anything, it’s a good watch in terms of seeing how deniers cherry-pick, distort, and fabricate “facts” in order to “debunk” climate change. Hint: It’s not too different from creationist techniques.”
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/The_Great_Global_Warming_Swindle
You know, you really don’t have to dig very deep to expose this denialist propaganda junk for what it is.
Sure the Japanese have been eating them for years and there’s loads of them
I thought polar bears would prefer to p-p-pick up a penguin instead
They’d have to go to the other end of the earth (literally) to find one….
Not at all…..they can just get the bus to their local tesco and buy a 10 pack of penguins for €2.
Did the older bear have fries with it….
And a beer.
Maybe this particular bear is tired of eating seals all the time and is trying something new ?
or evolution.
evolution….. as a response to adverse climatic conditions that are in part caused by the actions of humans?
or for no reason at all?
comment issue
apparently I can’t reply to your comment using dinosaurs rather than humans
I’ll have one of whatever you’re on Emma! :0)
*Gemma
Those dolphin franchises are popping up in the Arctic now? I thought Subway or the Golden Arches would beat them to it.
“humans…… As a response to adverse climatic conditions that are in part caused by the actions of dinosaurs or for no reason at all?”
have your say