Mother Polar Bear and cub, Svalbard

Description

Polar Bears feed mostly on seals and often follow the retreating ice in summer in order to stay near to the edge of the ice-pack, where they are most likely to find food. They eat very little in summer months while they wait for the ice to freeze. Winter is an important time on the ice, where the bears stock up on nutrients for the long and ice-free Summer, developing fat reserves and preparing for reproduction.