The study of a scientific paper titled “Body condition among Svalbard Polar bears Ursus maritimus during a period of rapid loss of sea ice,” published in Scientific Reports on January 29, 2026 explains Svalbard bears are resilient due to local factors: increased abundance of alternative prey like harbour seals, reindeer, and walrus, which may compensate for reduced ringed seal access during ice-free months.

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From No Trick Zone

By Kenneth Richard

“[S]ea ice loss did not lead to a reduction in BC [body condition] among adult BS [Barents Sea] bears. Rather, after around 2000…both males and females of different reproductive categories increased in body condition for the following two decades.” — Aars et al., 2026

Thick sea ice is not a necessary condition for polar bear health and survival.

As local residents regularly observe, today polar bears successfully hunt bearded seal “when sea ice is absent.”

They also routinely feed on harbour seals, walrus, and reindeer throughout the summer.

Consequently, despite the expectation that a reduction in sea ice would harm polar bear populations, not only has the body condition (BC) of Svalbard bears improved since 2000, “the population has been increasing” for the last 50 years.

Interestingly, Svalbard polar bears – especially males – in the colder northern regions with thicker sea ice are in worse body condition (shown in blue) than bears in the warmer southern regions (red).