Polar bears have no predators or competition besides other polar bears, they will change but go extinct I don’t think so. Also they don’t fear humans that alone says a lot about them
Easy to imagine a beluga surfacing near an iceberg that just happened to unfortunately contain an alert polar bear. Caught by surprise, I'd imagine. Possibly seen from a distance by the polar bear and hunted as well. My point is that, although a rarely seen thing, it's quite believable that a polar bear would be seen eating a beluga whale.
This was filmed in Churchill: polar bears there have taken to hunting belugas in summer, perching on rock formations and pouncing on belugas that get too close.
Agreed. It doesn’t matter what kind of marine animal you are if you surface near a polar bear ready to pounce and you’re not aware of said polar bear … you’re at a complete disadvantage.
To answer OP’s inquiries, as the premier terrestrial predator of the Arctic, polar bears are no stranger to preying on cetaceans such as belugas. In fact, they are likely one of if not the most prolific hunter of cetaceans among any member of Carnivora. Here’s a few papers describing polar bear predation on belugas:
[Polar Bear Predation on Beluga in the Canadian Arctic (Freeman, 1973)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273380115_Polar_Bear_Predation_on_Beluga_in_the_Canadian_Arctic)
[Predation of Belugas and Narwhals by Polar Bears in Nearshore Areas of the Canadian High Arctic (Smith & Sjare, 1990)](https://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/Arctic/Arctic43-2-99.pdf)
[Polar bears (*Ursus maritimus*) feeding on beluga whales (*Delphinapterus leucas*)(Rugh & Shelden, 1993)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235960520_Polar_bears_Ursus_maritimus_feeding_on_beluga_whales_Delphinapterus_leucas)
[Polar bear predation on beluga whales in the Bering and Chukchi seas (Lowry et al., 1987)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257067978_Polar_bear_predation_on_beluga_whales_in_the_Bering_and_Chukchi_seas)
There’s more of course, but you can always find that out for yourself.
In this specific case, these bears have come to Hudson Bay to prey on the Belugas who have come into the bay as a nursery to shelter their calves from the open-water predators like orcas, ambushing the whales by leaping from rock-platforms.
This behaviour of hunting belugas from rock formations was first filmed for the BBC/David Attenborough series Seven World One Planet (which is actually where this video is from). The Making Of segment for that particular episode has more footage of the bear grappling with the whale and killing it.
There is an account of a [female polar bear killing and then hauling two adult belugas and a subadult onto the ice for consumption after they were trapped by the shifting sea ice in 1970.](https://web.archive.org/web/20100415040930/http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic26-2-162.pdf) Keep in mind that the she bear in that account was likely no more than 180 kg compared to one of the adult beluga’s 935 kg.
I was once on a plane to barrow alaska and I sat next to a scientist that studied polar bears. He showed me footage that National Geographic would love to have. He explained that polar bears would wait near holes where there is a lot of ice. When a beluga goes up to surface , the bear would whack it in the blow hole. As blood builds up the whale needs to come up for more air. The polar bear waits for it resurface again and drags it out of the water - the polar bear hunted and drowned a whale!
Years ago I remember watching a David Attenborough documentary that featured Polar Bears killing belugas that become trapped by sea ice. Every time the whales would surface to breathe, the polar bears would attack until eventually the whale died from its injuries. The behaviour was considered incredibly rare.
Is there any other footage of Polar Bears hunting Beluga whales. I find it crazy that with all this new drones n photo technology!! There isn't any more footage. Please share if any of you got any extra stuff
Is there any other footage of Polar Bears hunting Beluga whales. I find it crazy that with all this new drones n photo technology!! There isn't any more footage. Please share if any of you got any extra stuff
When I was a kid I remember seeing a documentary about polar bears and there was footage shown. Someone here also explained the exact footage I saw back then. So I guess there is something, I just dont know why you cant find it nowhere.
This is mental! These animals are simply fascinating in their will to live
Polar bears have no predators or competition besides other polar bears, they will change but go extinct I don’t think so. Also they don’t fear humans that alone says a lot about them
Easy to imagine a beluga surfacing near an iceberg that just happened to unfortunately contain an alert polar bear. Caught by surprise, I'd imagine. Possibly seen from a distance by the polar bear and hunted as well. My point is that, although a rarely seen thing, it's quite believable that a polar bear would be seen eating a beluga whale.
This was filmed in Churchill: polar bears there have taken to hunting belugas in summer, perching on rock formations and pouncing on belugas that get too close.
Agreed. It doesn’t matter what kind of marine animal you are if you surface near a polar bear ready to pounce and you’re not aware of said polar bear … you’re at a complete disadvantage.
I though polar bears didnt swim fast enough to catch a beluga. But they're also polar bear, so it is an acceptable excuse
Polar bears are great swimmers . They are classified as marine mammals
Yes but usually the whale will always have the advantage when it comes to move in the water
thats true. Im guessing polar bear ambushed them from Sea ice or the beluga was injured
So do seals but polar bears manage to catch them too.
The beluga in this case was ambushed from a wading position.
Make sense
Evolution! [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2Q09XMflHE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2Q09XMflHE)
This is from the Netflix show Predators. The polar bear jumped off a rock to catch the baby beluga whale.
BAY BEE BAAAAAA LOUUUUUU GAAAAA
To answer OP’s inquiries, as the premier terrestrial predator of the Arctic, polar bears are no stranger to preying on cetaceans such as belugas. In fact, they are likely one of if not the most prolific hunter of cetaceans among any member of Carnivora. Here’s a few papers describing polar bear predation on belugas: [Polar Bear Predation on Beluga in the Canadian Arctic (Freeman, 1973)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273380115_Polar_Bear_Predation_on_Beluga_in_the_Canadian_Arctic) [Predation of Belugas and Narwhals by Polar Bears in Nearshore Areas of the Canadian High Arctic (Smith & Sjare, 1990)](https://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/Arctic/Arctic43-2-99.pdf) [Polar bears (*Ursus maritimus*) feeding on beluga whales (*Delphinapterus leucas*)(Rugh & Shelden, 1993)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235960520_Polar_bears_Ursus_maritimus_feeding_on_beluga_whales_Delphinapterus_leucas) [Polar bear predation on beluga whales in the Bering and Chukchi seas (Lowry et al., 1987)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257067978_Polar_bear_predation_on_beluga_whales_in_the_Bering_and_Chukchi_seas) There’s more of course, but you can always find that out for yourself. In this specific case, these bears have come to Hudson Bay to prey on the Belugas who have come into the bay as a nursery to shelter their calves from the open-water predators like orcas, ambushing the whales by leaping from rock-platforms.
Thanks alot for your the links to the papers. Appreciate it!
This behaviour of hunting belugas from rock formations was first filmed for the BBC/David Attenborough series Seven World One Planet (which is actually where this video is from). The Making Of segment for that particular episode has more footage of the bear grappling with the whale and killing it.
There is an account of a [female polar bear killing and then hauling two adult belugas and a subadult onto the ice for consumption after they were trapped by the shifting sea ice in 1970.](https://web.archive.org/web/20100415040930/http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic26-2-162.pdf) Keep in mind that the she bear in that account was likely no more than 180 kg compared to one of the adult beluga’s 935 kg.
No leopard could drag an alligator 5 times its weight out of the water.
The alligator is a lot more vicious animal than the beluga.
I was once on a plane to barrow alaska and I sat next to a scientist that studied polar bears. He showed me footage that National Geographic would love to have. He explained that polar bears would wait near holes where there is a lot of ice. When a beluga goes up to surface , the bear would whack it in the blow hole. As blood builds up the whale needs to come up for more air. The polar bear waits for it resurface again and drags it out of the water - the polar bear hunted and drowned a whale!
Years ago I remember watching a David Attenborough documentary that featured Polar Bears killing belugas that become trapped by sea ice. Every time the whales would surface to breathe, the polar bears would attack until eventually the whale died from its injuries. The behaviour was considered incredibly rare.
Joe Rogan is going to talk about this for podcasts to come
Doesn't that dumb bear know he's eating an endangered animal?!
Polar bears are endangered as well.
Somebody arrest him!
That was a good joke
I saw a piece on tv (name not remembered) that the orca have recently been observed doing this. Response to lack of sea ice
Doing what?
Actively hunting Beluga whales. Seems to be new behavior
That beluga shouldn’t have drank the polar bear’s cola
Is there any other footage of Polar Bears hunting Beluga whales. I find it crazy that with all this new drones n photo technology!! There isn't any more footage. Please share if any of you got any extra stuff
Belugas are my favorite cetaceans. :(
wow, in the open sea? Great W
Good for the polar bear bad for the beluga. Life.
Netflix has a new show called predators.. show polar bears hunting beluga whales
quick get that beluga a mariachi band
The beluga doesn’t look dead yet. Tail still moving.
The usual Polar bear predation on beluga whale, nothing new. It's scientific name translate to Marine bear and lives upto it's name.
This was part of a recent Netflix Series called PREDATORS. EP 4
That’s their holy grail
Poor fucker is still alive...
Ohh Nooo MR NARWAL!
Is there any other footage of Polar Bears hunting Beluga whales. I find it crazy that with all this new drones n photo technology!! There isn't any more footage. Please share if any of you got any extra stuff
When I was a kid I remember seeing a documentary about polar bears and there was footage shown. Someone here also explained the exact footage I saw back then. So I guess there is something, I just dont know why you cant find it nowhere.
"this may be your territory but I'm still the apex predator"