Arctic Meltdown: Polar Bears Face Growing Risk of Disease
WASHINGTON — The Arctic is heating up, and with it comes a looming threat for polar bears. Research has unveiled that these majestic creatures now face an increased risk of contracting viruses, bacteria, and parasites that were once rare just three decades ago.
In a groundbreaking study shedding light on the connection between polar bear health and melting ice, scientists delved into blood samples from bears in the Chukchi Sea, nestled between Alaska and Russia.
Spanning from 1987 to 1994, the initial blood samples were compared to more recent ones collected between 2008 and 2017. The findings were alarming — a significant rise in chemical signals indicating infections with five different pathogens.
While the exact impact on the bears’ physical well-being remains unclear, wildlife biologist Dr. Karyn Rode from the US Geological Survey emphasized that this shift signals a broader change across the Arctic ecosystem.
The study focused on six pathogens in total, typically associated with land animals but now surfacing in marine species, including those hunted by polar bears.
Dr. Rode elaborated on the study’s timeframe, highlighting the substantial loss of sea ice and increased human activity in the polar bear population, stating, “We wanted to know if exposure had changed — particularly for some of these land-oriented pathogens.”
The identified pathogens responsible for the spike in polar bear infections include toxoplasmosis and neosporosis parasites, bacteria causing rabbit fever and brucellosis, and the canine distemper virus.
Despite their resilience to disease, polar bears are not immune to the changing Arctic landscape. With approximately 26,000 polar bears remaining worldwide, climate change remains a significant threat to their survival.
Recent studies using collar cameras have revealed the struggles of polar bears as they navigate longer periods on land due to dwindling sea ice, resulting in a scarcity of food sources.
Dr. Rode underscored the interconnectedness of species in the Arctic, stating, “Changes in pathogen exposure for polar bears reflect broader shifts affecting other wildlife species as well.”
As the Arctic continues to transform, polar bears find themselves at a crossroads, battling not just environmental changes but also the invisible threat of emerging diseases.
