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Polar bear „Frost“: anaesthetization not cause of death

Posted on 11. March 2024 by Rolf Stange

The death of the female polar bear “Frost” and her cub on Good Friday 2023 in Sassenfjord had attracted international attention (click here for further details). The polar bear family had come close to an area with huts on Vindodden and people had scared the two bears away. Soon thereafter Frost was seen dead in the water not far from the shore. The police (Sysselmester) was involved; they shot the young bear that had appeared to be aggressive and secured the bodies and other information for investigations.

Soon it became known that Frost and her cub had been anesthetized just two days before their death by scientists from the Norwegian Polar Institute. This led to speculations that the anaesthetization might have been the cause of the death of the two bears which had appeared to be a bit of a mystery; usually polar bears are excellent swimmers and they cover great distances in icy waters with ease.

Now the authorities have an autopsy report; it is (so far) unpublished, but Svalbardposten could read at least parts of it. The result: the anaesthetization was not the cause of death. Frost had serious internal injuries including broken ribs, a punctured lung and internal bleeding. According to the report, these injuries were the cause of Frost’s death.

It is not known how Frost received these injuries. A fall from a cliff appears as a reasonable scenario.

The anaesthetization had been done two days earlier in Tempelfjord, six to seven kilometres away from Vindodden where the two bears later died. After the anaesthetization, the scientists had observed Frost and her cub for a while until their behaviour appeared to be normal again. A causal connection between the anaesthetization and Frost’s death is therefore ruled out by the authorities.

Polar bear family in Isfjord, possibly Frost

Polar bear family in Isfjord. It is not known if this was Frost.

Every year several dozens or a three-digit number of polar bears are anaesthetized by scientists for investigations. The polar bears are marked and some of them equipped with transmitters, size and weight are recorded and various samples taken. Also Frost, known to scientsists as N23992, had been through that procedure a number of times in her life. Polar bear biologist Jon Aars of the Norwegian Polar Institute says that he and his colleagues have anaesthetized about 1000 polar bears in 20 years. In 3 cases, polar bears are known to have died from the consequences; there might be at least a 4th case which is not proven beyond a noticeable temporal connection. In any case, the procedure involves significant stress for the bears and it is thus criticized by animal rights activists.

The female polar bear Frost had been seen by many, also because she had a tendency to stay near huts and settlements. She had made it a habit to break into huts, an unfortunate habit which she appeared to have taught to her cubs. She became a bit of a celebrity through media coverage including the documentary “Queen without land” made by Asgeir Helgeland (original title: „Dronning uten Land“). Click here for more about Frost’s adventurous and partly tragic life.

Her tendency to stay near settlements and to break into huts was anything but popular amongst locals, and there were many who took the information about her death with relief.

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