An aerial survey program in 1977 and 1979 revealed that tracks of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) were abundant from Svalbard to Northeast Greenland south of 81° north latitude. In order to obtain evidence on possible exchange of polar bears between Svalbard and Greenland, 4 bears were instrumented with satellite radio collars from the ice drift station FRAM I in the northern Greenland Sea. After 1 month, 2 bears had moved eastwards to Svalbard and Frans Josef Land, and 2, which were instrumented further south, had moved southwards with the East Greenland Current. At times, some of the instrumented bears must have moved more than 40 km per day. Polar bears are able to compensate for the ice drift current, and can move against it. Helicopter observations revealed that there is an influx of bears, and particularly females with cubs, from the pack ice area off Northeast Greenland to Svalbard and the Barents Sea in early spring.
- Volume 5
- Issue
- Pages 230-237
- Publication Date 1 January 1983
- DOI 10.2307/3872542
- File Size 1.23 MB
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