Rare Polar Bear Images Show Scavenging on Sperm Whale in Arctic

Quick Summary

• Photographer Roie Galitz captured striking images of a sperm whale carcass and polar bears in the Arctic, at 82° north latitude.
• The whale carcass, uncommon at such high latitudes, was discovered near Svalbard during a July expedition led by Galitz.
• Sperm whales typically inhabit temperate waters; experts speculate currents or wind might have carried this whale north. Its cause of death remains undetermined.
• male and female polar bears were observed interacting with the decomposing carcass over 24 hours as Galitz documented their behaviour using drones and cameras.
• The scene also highlighted Arctic decay processes like gas-releasing decomposition under intense cold conditions.
• Social media skepticism arose around the authenticity of images,but Galitz affirmed these were genuine photographs backed by raw files.

!202507081817530235D.jpg”>Polar bear resting on ice sheet

Read More

Indian Opinion Analysis

This rare episode underscores both the unpredictability of Arctic ecology and its potential vulnerability to environmental shifts. The presence of a sperm whale at such an unusual location could signify changes in marine patterns influenced by currents or climate anomalies-a hypothesis that merits deeper scientific exploration.

For India, while this may seem geographically distant, global climate patterns are interconnected. Polar changes can indirectly shape monsoon systems through atmospheric circulation impacts. Furthermore, the vivid proximity between wildlife-like polar bears-and deteriorating habitats reinforces global calls for conservation efforts to curb ecological upheavals linked to human activity. The documentation by photographers like Roie Galitz serves not only as a reminder of nature’s transient beauty but also a call to action for preserving it amid growing environmental uncertainty.