In Search of Isbjørn.

[Lisbeth]

It is not at all montonous -O

[Flutterby]

Glad you didn't fall through the ice!

Are the bears very territorial and do they end up in in disputes?

[Dewi]

Thank you Jillinflorida, Nan, Lisbeth & Flutterby.

Patience Jill. -O He will be along in a post or three.

Nan, until you see someone on the ice to get perspective, you don't realise the scale of things.

Lis, I think the only quiet spell of the trip was the journey from after we left the ice and sailed down to Karl XII Island. As soon as we approached the island, things got interesting again.

Flutts, They are not territorial in the same way as say a Lion or a Leopard. They are seasonal migrators, moving to where the food is. They are faithful to a home range which can cover up to 500 sq km (200 sq miles) with males having a larger home range than the females. If a good food source is available, such as a dead whale that washes up ashore, several animals will tolerate each other to get at the food. They also congregate in some areas waiting for the sea ice to form such as at Churchill in Canada's Hudson Bay.

Disputes do happen, but they will avoid fighting if possible. This is usually over a receptive female, and only when two of the males are evenly matched.

[Flutterby]

Tx for that info Dewi.

[Dewi]

The ice-front along the Southern end of Nordaustlandet is the longest in the Northern Hemisphere. We approached the start of the ice-front and explored the area for a while before heading East to Kvitoya Island.

The Sun made an appearance through the clouds.



The jumbled mass of ice forms crevasses which split into deep chasms. Red algae grow on the ice, an indication to the warmer temperatures here in recent years.





As the light changes, so does the colour of the ice, becoming darker blue and turquoise.





Blocks of ice that calve from these glacier fronts roll and break up in the sea with wind and wave action forming unique shapes and patterns.





We headed for Kvitoya, but would return later to travel the length of the ice-front, so there is more to come on this.

Ashore on the island, we found two dead bears. One old carcass, one relatively fresh. The bears get stuck on the islands when the ice breaks up too early in the season and as there is little food available, they starve. Not a nice thing to see, but I include them here to highlight the cost of climate change to these animals that we rarely see.

The size of the paw is evident in this pic.



And the claws are powerful tools.



The skull of the bear showing the canine teeth.



Earlier in the landing here we all went up to the site where the ill fated Andreé balloon expedition had finally made it back to land after crashing on the ice further North. They died here and it was 33 years before anyone found their remains and discovered what had happened to them.

We took the opportunity here for a group photo.



Me Hans Benedict Per Tytti Eric
Christina Tine
Sigmund Hetty Lennart Mats
Jurgen

[Sprocky]

Stunning Dewi, absolutely stunning!!!

[Lisbeth]

Once it was rare to see the ice calve, now it seems a common sight........or is it maybe because more tourists are going to these places

[Dewi]

Thanks Sprocky.

Lis, it's getting to be a much more common sight as the glaciers are retreating quicker than they used to.

[nan]

interesting to see claws and canines
and the group too
what superb colors the ice can have

[Jillinflorida]

Global warming certainly showing up more and more. What I don't understand is polar bears can swim, so why would they have been 'stranded' on an ice flow?

The ice crevices look very deep (and frightening). Wouldn't want to slip into one of those. Liking the different colors that show up too.

Group picture is great - but why are you standing apart from everyone. Didn't they shower, or was it you?