Climate Change in the Arctic

Two days after the first encounter with the mother and her cub, the scene on our island changed dramatically. Suddenly, there were not just two bears—six or seven polar bears appeared at once among the glowing purple fireweeds. An overwhelming sight: massive white figures everywhere, set against a sea of color that seemed almost unreal. As impressive as it was, it demanded our full attention. Even our experienced guides were tense; it was crucial to know at every moment where the animals were. So we stayed close to the boat.

On the morning of August 6, Hudson Bay revealed itself in unforgettable light. A veil of haze hung over the water, the sun burned deep red, and the entire landscape felt eerily still. It was smoke from massive wildfires in Manitoba, hundreds of kilometers away, carried all the way into the Arctic (NASA Earth Observatory, CityNews Winnipeg). That layer of smoke settled like a filter over everything—the flowers, the island, the bears—casting them in a light both uncannily beautiful and oppressively heavy.

Adding to this was an unusual heat. Several times during our stay, the thermometer climbed to nearly 30 °C. For us, it meant harsh, glaring light and difficult photographic conditions. For the bears, it was an immense strain. Their thick fur and dense fat layers protect them perfectly from the cold—but against heat they are almost defenseless. More and more, they sought relief in the water to cope with the warmth.

One bear in particular has stayed with me: a young, inquisitive one who seemed to be waiting for us at the shore almost every morning. He stood there, alert and watchful, as if studying us, and quickly felt almost familiar. He became one of my favorites. Later I watched him in a scene that moved me deeply: in the waters of Hudson Bay. With my drone I captured how he floated, clasped his paws, scratched himself, dove again, and clearly reveled in the bath. The whole moment felt peaceful, playful, and full of life.

As beautiful as the scene was, it also carried a quiet warning. That sense of ease stood in sharp contrast to the impressions of those days: smoke in the sky, oppressive heat, and bears struggling to keep their balance in a changing Arctic.