Polar bear's iceberg snooze melts hearts, wins wildlife photo award

[aggiesal]

Last edited Wed Feb 7, 2024, 03:50 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Washington Post (No Paywall)



This dreamy image of a polar bear drifting to sleep on a bed carved into an iceberg is the winner of the 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award.

British amateur photographer Nima Sarikhani, who captured the stunning moment after three days on an expedition vessel off Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, said: “This photograph has stirred strong emotions in many of those who have seen it. Whilst climate change is the biggest challenge we face, I hope that this photograph also inspires hope; there is still time to fix the mess we have caused.”

“Nima’s breathtaking and poignant image allows us to see the beauty and fragility of our planet,” said Douglas Gurr, director of London’s Natural History Museum, which hosts the yearly competition.

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Read more: https://wapo.st/42zrIsu

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There are images from other entries in the article.
This picture is a 1 in a million shot.

Enjoy.

[MontanaMama]

1. This made my day.

Thank you for posting!

[TeamProg]

2. Wonderful! Thanks for posting. nt

[bluestarone]

3. WOW! what a catch!!

It looks so peaceful!

[wcollar]

4. Only Problem is

when he went to sleep it was still solid ice that was part of the North Pole.................

[StarryNite]

5. A beautiful but bittersweet photo.

It definitely deserves that award.

[calimary]

6. Wow! A one-in-a-million shot!

Beautiful!!!

[Farmer-Rick]

7. A beautiful photo

Both the iceberg and the polar bear will soon go extinct. Thank people like the Koch Bros. They must get every dirty penny from the obsolete oil and gas corporations they own. All the while blocking advancement in renewable energy.

[pazzyanne]

13. ...

[aggiesal]

16. Everything is perfect until humans get involved. n/t

[MustLoveBeagles]

8. Great shot

[Fla Dem]

9. Breathtaking and beautiful shot. Was concerned the bear would be stranded.

However I then read this:

How far from land will polar bears swim?
In 2011, one female polar bear swim was recorded at 426 (687 kilometers) miles, achieved over nine straight days (which is equivalent to the distance between Washington, DC and Boston). Her journey through the Beaufort Sea is indicative of the longer and longer stretches mother bears are having to swim to reach land.Mar 12, 2022.

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are capable of swimming incredible distances, according to a new study published in Zoology, which recorded polar bears regularly swimming over 30 miles (48 kilometers) and, in one case, as far as 220 miles (354 kilometers).

[surfered]

10. Wow! Thanks for that.

Fun facts to know and tell.

[soldierant]

11. Totally off topic and also of the wall,

but the "bed" looks like a giant Cinderellsa's slipper.

[Martin Eden]

12. Beautiful Dreamer

Our fellow living beings of Earth have intrinsic value, not to exploit for profit but for how they touch our hearts and for their own existence.

[ratchiweenie]

14. Can you even fathom wanting to shoot that and put it on your floor as a rug? Such a tender picture.

[Mysterian]

17. Big baby!

I want to snuggle with him.

[Stuart G]

18. Great Post ....K and R...no text..

[Raine]

19. Sweet little Bear 🐻‍❄️❤️ I would love to give him a hug 🥰

but I don't think he would like it if I tried.