A groundbreaking new study by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in collaboration with umanitoba, ualberta, and canenvironment shows polar bears’ incredible role in sustaining Arctic ecosystems. 🐻‍❄️ Each year, polar bears leave behind an estimated 7.6 million kilograms of food from their hunting activities, a massive and critical food source for Arctic foxes, ravens, and other scavengers. By hunting on sea ice, polar bears also create a vital bridge between ocean and land, transferring essential energy to species that depend on it. But as sea ice vanishes due to climate change, this lifeline disappears, threatening not just polar bears but the entire web of Arctic species. This cascading impact underscores why polar bear conservation has never been more urgent. More on this research at the 🔗 in bio. #polarbearweek #ecosystemengineers #polarbears