Arctic polar bear (Photo : Facebook)
Global warming's effects on the Arctic Ocean and animal habitats have likely now caused the polar bear diet to include a new menu item. Norwegian scientists have reported that the furry mammals, which usually dine on seals, are killing and eating dolphins for the first time in recorded history.
Researchers have spotted at least six unique polar bears consuming dolphins. The white-beaked species are quite common in European waters.
Norwegian scientists recently reported their findings in Polar Research.
Jon Aars, lead researcher of the Norwegian Polar Institute, told AFP that one of climate change's effects is that new species are moving northward. This has made them available to polar bears' palate.
The dolphins frequently swim to the Norwegian Arctic in summer. However, due to Arctic ice melting, the dolphins are now also moving north in the spring and winter, according to The Washington Post.
Polar bears are opportunists. When northerly winds caused ice to trap the swimming dolphins, the huge carnivores hunted the new prey like seals as a means of survival.
Like seals, dolphins usually poke their heads out of particular ice holes so they can breathe, according to The Independent. The bears try to grab some fast food there.
Related to the new polar bear diet, the researchers also observed a "very skinny" white bear using snow to cover up a dolphin carcass. It was probably preparing a frozen leftover.
Like the dolphin home, the polar bear habitat is also shrinking as the Arctic region warms up as a global warming result. Scientists expect their population to shrink greatly in the near future.
