Polar bear pulls seal pup onto ice then backs away. The reason why is extraordinary - BBC Wildlife Magazine

What the report says

Discoverwildlife.com, in a BBC Wildlife Magazine article, reported that wildlife watchers in Billefjorden, Svalbard, observed a polar bear using a young bearded seal in what appeared to be an attempt to draw the pup’s mother onto the ice. The encounter was filmed in spring 2026 by Secret Atlas, a small-group expedition company, using telephoto lenses.

According to the report, the bear first stalked and attacked the juvenile seal, then moved back from it rather than immediately feeding. The behavior was interpreted as a tactic to exploit the tendency of mother seals to remain near their pups. When the mother, believed to be underwater nearby, did not come onto the ice, the bear returned to the pup, struck it with its forepaws, dragged it across the ice and fed on the carcass.

Michele D’Agostino, co-founder of Secret Atlas, told the publication that the bear appeared to study the ice before acting and suggested the sequence showed learned understanding of bearded seal behavior, not only instinct. The article said the animal had already been hunting for several hours before the tourists witnessed the full sequence.

The report frames the footage as a rare look at polar bear hunting strategy in the Arctic. As general context, polar bears rely heavily on seals as prey, and hunting opportunities on sea ice are central to their survival. Discoverwildlife.com noted that the images were taken from a distance with telephoto equipment and that the sightings followed AECO distance guidelines and local rules.