Groundbreaking Study

A landmark study has provided an unprecedented glimpse into the first moments of polar bear cubs emerging from their dens in Svalbard, Norway. Conducted by researchers from Polar Bears International, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, the Norwegian Polar Institute, and the University of Toronto Scarborough, this study combines satellite tracking collars with remote camera traps to document den emergence—a critical but previously elusive phase of polar bear development. The researchers spent nearly a decade capturing footage and gathering data, making this the most comprehensive study of its kind.