First-Ever Footage Captures Polar Bear Cubs Emerging From Arctic Dens

A decade-long study using remote cameras and GPS collars reveals new insights into polar bear denning behavior in Svalbard, Norway.

Researchers combined satellite tracking collars and remote cameras to document polar bear cubs leaving their dens for the first time in Svalbard, Norway.
The study highlights the critical role of maternal dens in cub survival, with fewer than 50% of cubs typically surviving to adulthood.
Findings indicate polar bear families are leaving their dens earlier in the spring than previously recorded, potentially due to climate change, though further monitoring is needed.
Cubs rely heavily on their mothers during this vulnerable period, rarely venturing outside the den alone and staying close for up to 2.5 years.
The research underscores the need to protect denning habitats as industrial activity and climate-driven changes increasingly threaten Arctic ecosystems.