Threatened polar bears find sanctuary in Alaska village

Mackenzie Samet

featured

Sep 26, 2017

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Threatened Polar Bears Find Sanctuary in Alaskan Village

As climate change shrinks their natural habitat, polar bears are turning the Alaskan village of Kaktovik into their very own sanctuary city. Land-bound and hungry, as many as 60 bears descend upon Kaktovik in the late summer, when the 262-person town begins its annual subsistence harvest of three bowhead whales with permission from the International Whaling Commission. After the hunt, the bears converge amid crowds of seagulls, scavenging for whale meat and much-needed calories. EPA-EFE

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epa06225719 (22/27) A mother polar bear (L) and two of her cubs gather on a barrier island after feasting on the remains of a bowhead whale, harvested legally by whalers… EPA-EFE

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epa06225716 (19/27) Polar bears gather a barrier island after feasting on the remains of a bowhead whale, harvested legally by whalers during their annual subsistence hunt, just outside the Inupiat… EPA-EFE

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epa06225712 (15/27) Polar bears prepare to feast on the remains of a bowhead whale, harvested legally by whalers during their annual subsistence hunt, just outside the Inupiat village of Kaktovik,… EPA-EFE

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epa06225722 (25/27) A young polar bear feasts on the remains of a bowhead whale, harvested legally by whalers during their annual subsistence hunt, just outside the Inupiat village of Kaktovik,… EPA-EFE

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epa06225723 (26/27) A polar bear plays in the water after feasting on the remains of a bowhead whale, harvested legally by whalers during their annual subsistence hunt, just outside the… EPA-EFE

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epa06225721 (24/27) Polar bears gather on a barrier island after feasting on the remains of a bowhead whale, harvested legally by whalers during their annual subsistence hunt, just outside the… EPA-EFE

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epa06225717 (20/27) A polar bears walks along a barrier island after feasting on the remains of a bowhead whale, harvested legally by whalers during their annual subsistence hunt, just outside… EPA-EFE

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epa06225718 (21/27) A polar bear rolls in the dirt on a barrier island after feasting on the remains of a bowhead whale, harvested legally by whalers during their annual subsistence… EPA-EFE

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epa06225713 (16/27) Polar bears feast on the remains of a bowhead whale, harvested legally by whalers during their annual subsistence hunt, just outside the Inupiat village of Kaktovik, Alaska, USA,… EPA-EFE

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epa06225711 (14/27) A young polar bear prepares to feast on the remains of a bowhead whale, harvested legally by whalers during their annual subsistence hunt, just outside the Inupiat village… EPA-EFE

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epa06225710 (13/27) Polar bears feast on the remains of a bowhead whale, harvested legally by whalers during their annual subsistence hunt, just outside the Inupiat village of Kaktovik, Alaska, USA,… EPA-EFE

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A front loader washes a bowhead whale, harvested legally by whalers during their annual subsistence hunt. EPA-EFE

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A permafrost ice cellar, which at one time served as a natural freezer for food, is now flooded by melted permafrost. EPA-EFE

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epa06225698 (01/27) Polar bears gather on a barrier island after feasting on the remains of a bowhead whale, harvested legally by whalers during their annual subsistence hunt, just outside the… EPA-EFE

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