A remarkable event unfolded in the glacial wilderness of eastern Greenland on 15 June; a one-of-its-kind spectacle that left observers captivated. An assemblage of 68 polar bears (Ursus maritimus) was recorded at a singular location, feasting on a bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus).
The breathtaking spectacle was recorded by passengers onboard Le Commandant Charcot, a state-of-the-art commercial icebreaker vessel, operated by French expedition cruise company Ponant. Captain Patrick Marchesseau was at the bridge of the vessel when the watchmen sighted the first polar bear. As he recounts, “suddenly it was not just one bear, it was ten, and then through the mist we could see there were bears everywhere. Soon we realised why – a bowhead whale carcass was providing a feast. There were 68 bears officially counted. The sight was absolutely superb — a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Captain Marchesseau remarks the unfamiliarity of such a large gathering even impressed two Inuit guides on board, who had never seen so many bears in one place at one time. “Like us they were astounded. To see so many polar bears in the one instance was deeply surprising even for them”.
On-scene photographer’s account
Renowned photographer Nick Rains, a long-time collaborator with Australian Geographic, was on board during the incredible event. “Everywhere you looked there was a sleeping bear just passed out in the snow after like an orgy of eating as they were digesting their blubber”.
Over several hours of observation under the midnight sun, the bears’ behaviour provided endless fascination for those on board the ship, that remained stationary and silent to avoid disturbing the animals.
To witness such a chance encounter in the remote Arctic wilderness and capture it on film was truly humbling for the Australian photographer. “I was able to watch their interactions from the safe vantage point on the deck of Le Commandant Charcot and photograph bears swimming, playing. Mothers with two, even three cubs had turned up for the feast. So we had the whole bear experience all encapsulated in this period of time as we watched the scene unfold”.
‘A rare bonanza’
The event is even more remarkable considering polar bears are known for their solitary nature. They traverse vast icy expanses, sometimes covering thousands of kilometres, in search of food. Polar bears can smell seals up to 32 kilometres away, so with a dead whale carcass, it’s likely to have drawn the carnivores from up to a hundred kilometres.
A whale carcass can provide a bounty of rich, fat-laden nutrition necessary for polar bears to sustain themselves in such an unforgiving environment. “An accessible whale carcass is a rare bonanza for bears and other wildlife” remarks Lisa LaPointe, a naturalist aboard the ship. “A single whale carcass can nourish multiple bears for weeks, months, or more depending on conditions. This intake can mean the difference between surviving and thriving during a lean summer. It can be the deciding factor in whether a female bear is able to produce cubs the following spring.”
It’s not known how the bowhead whale died, but it’s believed an attack by a pod of orcas could be possible. Orcas are fond of killing bowhead whales to eat only their tongue, leaving the rest of the carcass, which, in this case, left an incredible buffet for the polar bears.
“What was most striking was how little conflict we observed, even among bears actively feeding at the carcass. With appetites sated, each was largely accommodating the others. Even mothers with cubs were partaking in the abundance, the cubs feeding next to adults,” recalls Lisa.
The naturalist reflects, “To record and photograph such a happening across such a fleeting event in the expanse of the Arctic left passengers and crew with such gratitude for our unusual experience.”
Editor’s note: The Le Commandant Charcot crew and guests remained at a distance to ensure that the bears didn’t experience any stress or pressure and that their natural activities were not impacted throughout the encounter.
