Polar Bear 5 (our full encounter)

Circumnavigation of Svalbard aboard Atlas Ocean Voyages' yacht World Voyager on 20 - 31 July 2025.

Our full encounter with Polar Bear #5 on 24 July 2025 while on our way from Sundbukta to Kapp Lee in Svalbard. We first saw it on a rocky island as we departed Sundbukta - it was raiding bird nests. Arctic terns, Snow Buntings and Ruddy Turnstones all tried to ward off the bear but were unsuccessful.

When the bear went over the ridge of the island, we sailed round to the opposite side and once again found the polar bear. I don't know if it smelled lunch from the ship's galley or was just curious but it walked down to the water and sniffed the air for a long time. You'll have to watch the video to see what happened - it included one of my photographic nightmares!

When I thought the encounter was over I went inside to check the footage I had captured. A few minutes later I realized the encounter was still taking place so I missed a portion of it. Mara (@maratalksloud) was a member of the Expedition Team who she kindly shared her video clip which I used in my video. Thanks Mara!

Music:
"Breathing Below Surface" by Jesse Cook
& "Cicadas" by Scott Buckley
(released under CC-BY 4.0)
www.scottbuckley.com.au
Thank you both for allowing your music to be used in YouTube videos.

Chapters:
00:00 Start of the encounter
03:38 Investigating the smells from the blue blob on the water
05:00 To the water's edge
06:40 Start of the swim
08:25 Closest approach to the ship
09:00 Swimming away
09:30 Getting out of the water
11:30 Dive-bombing Parasitic Jaegers