The image won the People's Choice award of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year, hosted by the Natural History Museum in London. More than 50,000 images were submitted to the competition. The photograph by Sarikhani won in a public vote among a shortlist of 25 images.

The image depicts a young polar bear sleeping on an iceberg. Amateur photographer Nima Sarikhani captured the photograph during a three-day expedition in the waters off the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. In an Instagram post, the photographer stated that they had been searching for polar bears for three days. The ship they were on turned and headed towards an area where there was still some sea ice.

"Here, we encountered a younger and an older male and watched the two animals for the next eight hours. Just before midnight, the young male climbed onto a small iceberg and, using its strong paws, dragged it with claws to create a bed for itself."

The image serves as a vivid portrayal of the threat to polar wildlife, which scientists attribute to the climate crisis.

"This photograph has evoked strong emotions in many who have seen it. While climate change is the greatest challenge we face, I also hope that this photograph inspires hope; there is still time to rectify the chaos we have caused," Sarikhani said in a press release.

The small iceberg offers only temporary refuge for the bear—a microcosm of how polar habitats continue to shrink as the world warms.

Douglas Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum, described the photograph as "a visual representation of the damaging impacts of climate warming and habitat loss."

The photograph sounds the alarm for the climate crisis our planet is experiencing. Continued warming has consequences that will be irreversible unless immediate and drastic action is taken. The melting of ice caps directly affects polar habitats and marine life, both in adjacent regions and in the oceans at large.

Already, fish and mammals have increased in the North Pole. The melting of ice caps will nourish plankton, leading to an estimated increase in fish population of up to 70%. On the other hand, the melting of ice caps will gradually lead to the disappearance of animals living on them. Polar bears have already become an endangered species. Next in line are seals, walruses, and penguins.

Moreover, if global temperatures continue to rise, research shows that by 2030, sea levels could rise by up to 65 meters, rendering coastal areas uninhabitable. It is estimated that approximately 5 million people will be displaced.

Sources:

www.businessinsider.com/

www.instagram.com/p/C0PXCmoqLKw/

www.tsemperlidou.gr

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