Ecology
Scientists are trying to find out why some polar bears in Alaska suffer from hair loss and skin diseases, and is this due to the disease that affects seals in these places?
According to chief biologist Tony DeGange, scientists examined 33 bears during a field study in the southern Beaufort Sea near Barrow in late March and early April. Among the animals examined, 9 had hair loss, that is, alopecia and other skin problems. Deganj said that although a few bears usually suffer from these diseases, it is not entirely normal to find symptoms in so many animals in such a short time.
Biologists collected blood and tissue samples from infected bears to determine whether these symptoms are related to a mysterious disease found in seals and walruses. Symptoms were first noticed last summer when 60 cats died from the disease and another 75 were infected. Most of the animals affected by the disease were ringed seals. Polar bears primarily feed on them. Spotted seals, striped seals and lahtaki were also among the victims.
In addition to the wounds on the bodies of the animals, they also had difficulty breathing and were lethargic. Walruses were found with similar symptoms: damaged skin and fur, but generally appeared to be quite healthy, as did bears that were recently discovered.
The researchers continued their work near Kaktovik, closer to the Canadian border. The results of these studies will be available in mid-May. Infected seals have been seen in areas of Canada, Russia and the Bering Strait. Although they have been tested for all possible infections, scientists are still unable to say exactly who is the causative agent of the disease.