The Arctic is the region around the North Pole that includes the treeless Arctic tundra as well as deserts of ice and snow. With temperatures dropping as low as -70°C, it is an area hostile to life. And yet some remarkable plant and animal species have adapted to the harsh Arctic conditions. Among them is Earth’s biggest land predator, the polar bear.
Thousands of miles further south at Tierpark Berlin, baby polar bear Fritz is getting in lots of practice on his little legs, preparing to take his first steps in the outside world. Outdoors, meanwhile, renovation work on the polar bear family home is well underway. The tunnel that leads to the waterfront of the polar bear habitat looks like it is under the surface already, and the landscape that previously appeared somewhat barren is gradually transforming into a natural habitat full of plants and rocks.
Polar bear curator Dr Florian Sicks is happy with the progress of the work: “We have filled in areas where the rocks were too steep or the steps too high with gravel and stones. Now all that’s left to do is put up the signs that will give Tierpark visitors more information about the world of the polar bear.” One of the signs, for example, will explain why polar bears need ice to survive. Their main prey, ringed seals, have as many as six holes in the ice where they pop up briefly for air. These breathing holes are the polar bears’ chance to ambush their agile prey. However, rising global temperatures are causing the Arctic ice to melt. If the sea’s surface is not frozen, seals no longer require breathing holes. This is a big problem for polar bears with their very specialised hunting technique: Without ice, there would be no holes; without the holes, no chance to catch dinner.
According to estimates by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are currently 22,000 to 31,000 polar bears living in the wild. The IUCN classifies polar bears as an endangered species and fears a decline in their numbers of 30 percent or more over the next 45 years. The German Federation of Zoo Directors (VDZ) stresses the important role that zoos play in conservation – their breeding programmes are an increasingly important part of efforts to save polar bears and many other endangered species.
Back at the Tierpark, little Fritz is blissfully unaware of the hardships that climate change caused by human activity entails for his fellows in the wild – he spends his time practising his climbing skills and drinking strengthening milk from mama bear Tonja. But Zoo and Tierpark Director Dr Andreas Knieriem hopes that Fritz will encourage visitors to play an active role in tackling the problem of climate change: “I hope that the enormous amount of affection that the public feel for our little Fritz will provide some important food for thought –not only on International Polar Bear Day!”
Background
Fritz’s mother Tonja (now aged seven) gave birth to her first offspring at Tierpark Berlin on 3 November 2016. Fritz is the first baby polar bear at Tierpark Berlin in 22 years. His father is five-year-old Wolodja.
The young mother and her son are currently not on show to the public. Just like in the wild, the polar bear mother will not leave the birthing den with her young until the spring.
