Polar Bears, the Long-Distance Swimmer

Polar bears swim turned out to have a special ability. Despite the big, white predator is able to swim for days in open water and reach hundreds of kilometers. Amazingly, the polar bears do it all in one go. 

A polar bear swims underwater in the St-Felicien Wildlife Zoo in St-Felicien, Quebec. (Picture from: http://www.canada.com/)

Scientists know this ability after observing the movement of the polar bear tracking data with Global Positioning System (satellite-based monitoring tool location). According to them, the ability to swim long distances is closely related to the reduced response of polar bears in the Arctic permafrost. 

Permafrost become an important habitat for polar bears. These endangered animals hunt their prey, mainly seals, beneath the ice. However, temperature increases in recent years has removed a layer of ice over the Arctic waters. As a result, the oceans, which must be forded expanding polar bear. 

Scientists fear the loss of the ice causes the child drowned polar bears swim long distances because of its ability not as good as its parent. Walrus are also expected to run into trouble because his life depends on the ice. 

For six years, researchers from the United States Geological Survey to use collar GPS to keep track of 50 long-distance swimming motion made by 20 adult female bears. A total of 12 individuals of the bear that invites adults and children. In fact, ten adult females who were arrested a year later still carrying its child. 

From data that are documented, the bear was swimming for 17 hours to 10 days as far as 54-687 kilometers south of the Beaufort Sea near Alaska. "This observation suggests a polar bear cubs are also capable of swimming long distances," said Anthony Pagano, a USGS scientist and leader of the research. 

Polar bears were tracked during long-distance swims in Arctic waters. (Picture from: http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/)

The study ended in 2009 and published in the journal Canadian Journal of Zoology 2012, April 27th issue shows a polar bear swim frequency increases every year. The study also showed the bear did not stop to rest or eat during the swim. *** [LIVESCIENCE | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 3873]

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