http://upi.com/5022758
Researchers observe
polar bears eating dolphins,
freezing leftovers
Being almost always hungry, polar bears are rather
opportunistic predators.
opportunistic predators.
SVALBARD, Norway, June 10 (UPI) -- Researchers have
documented a group polar bears with a taste for dolphin. It's
the first time bears have been recorded eating the marine
mammal.
documented a group polar bears with a taste for dolphin. It's
the first time bears have been recorded eating the marine
mammal.
The first instance was documented in 2014. Researchers with
the Norwegian Polar Institute came upon a polar bear with
two dead white-beaked dolphins. The scientists believe the
bear caught the two dolphins the same way bears catch seals,
by waiting for specimens trapped under the ice and in need
of oxygen to emerge through a hole in ice.
the Norwegian Polar Institute came upon a polar bear with
two dead white-beaked dolphins. The scientists believe the
bear caught the two dolphins the same way bears catch seals,
by waiting for specimens trapped under the ice and in need
of oxygen to emerge through a hole in ice.
"They will eat any marine
mammal
given a chance,"
researcher Jon Aars
told the
NewScientist
. "The bigger
surprise was that the
dolphins
were
entrapped before
they could migrate south for the winter."
mammal
given a chance,"
researcher Jon Aars
told the
NewScientist
. "The bigger
surprise was that the
dolphins
were
entrapped before
they could migrate south for the winter."
Researchers believe the dolphins were enticed north by
warmer than usual waters and subsequently blown off course.
warmer than usual waters and subsequently blown off course.
"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," scientists wrote
in their new study on the phenomenon, published in
the journal Polar Research.
winds the days before, and possibly killed when forced to
surface for air at a small opening in the ice," scientists wrote
in their new study on the phenomenon, published in
the journal Polar Research.
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