Published 11:09 IST, September 23rd 2020

'Devastating': Polar bear cubs pictured playing with plastic on remote Arctic island

A heart-wrenching image, taken by Arctic expedition leader Jens Wikström, of two baby polar bears chewing on plastic, recently surfaced on the internet.

Reported by: Bhavya Sukheja
Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
null | Image: self
Advertisement

A heart-wrenching im of two baby polar bears chewing on plastic in Artic recently surfaced on internet. picture, taken by Arctic expedition leer Jens Wikström, feature pair of two-year-old siblings playing tug-of-war with a bin liner. harrowing photograph highlight growing severity of plastic pollution as cubs possibly swallowed chunks of plastic bag while playing. 

Jens captured shocking scene at Lifdefjorden, Svalbard, rway. According to Daily Mail, Jens, who has sailed for nine years, said that he was appalled by pollution. He said that he watched horrifying scene from approximately 98 feet away, while polar bear cubs played with black plastic bag for about 15 minutes. 

Advertisement

RE: Arctic Ocean Ice Melts To Its Second Lowest Level On Record This Summer

‘Devastating’ sight 

While calling sight ‘devastating’, Jens shared im on Facebook. He said that cubs went to shoreline, dug up sw and found regular plastic bag. Jens ded that pair started to rip it apart like a toy and ate a good chunk of it. Furr, Jens said that on remote islands of Arctic, he has seen young curious bears and Arctic foxes eating plastic that often drifts ashore with he currents from Arctic Ocean rast of Svalbard or with Gulf Stream that come up from Europe. 

Advertisement

RE: Two Antarctic Glaciers 'progressively' Breaking Free; Scientists Fear Rise In Sea Level

In caption of social media post, Jens said, “This photo was taken in Lifdefjorden, located on rrn coastline of Svalbard. Sights like this are devastating. On remote islands of Arctic, young curious bears, Arctic foxes, and or predators end up eating plastic pollution that often drifts ashore with currents from Arctic Ocean rast of Svalbard or with Gulf Stream that come up from Europe”. 

According to a population survey from 2017, only about 250 polar bears roam coastal region around Svalbard. Despite climate change, environmentalists believe that polar bears in area are coping well. However, dangers of plastic pollution still is a major concern as microplastics are alrey affecting food chain of fish and seals, so plastic is getting into polar bear’s diet which can eventually affect milk of mor as well. 

Advertisement

RE: se Pictures Of Intact Ice Cave Bear 22,000 To 39,500 Years-old Found In Arctic Russia Are Stunning

RE: Firmenich Steps Up Leership On Climate Action & Biodiversity At Climate Week NYC

Advertisement

11:10 IST, September 23rd 2020