Rolf-Arne lberg, a vet with the Norwegian Polar Institute, monitors polar bears in Svalbard from a helicopter. He assesses bears by distance before darting them with sedatives. The monitoring program aims to understand bear biology and the impact of various threats. Initially, hunting was the main threat until a protection agreement in 1973 led to a population recovery. However, climate change is now posing significant new risks. The program continues to collect vital data to inform conservation efforts.
When they start to walk a little bit unsteadily, swaying from one side to the other, that means the drugs are having an effect.
In the 1960s, the greatest threat was hunting. The number of bears was falling dramatically until 1973, when they were given protection.
Now, the biggest threat is climate breakdown and the impact it will have in the years ahead.
The aim of the annual monitoring programme is to assess the impact of any threats to the polar bear population.
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