Polar bear as cartographer's apprentice?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a polar bear that boarded the cartographer ship "Hydrograf" and the circumstances surrounding its presence on the vessel. Participants explore various hypotheses regarding the bear's motivations and behaviors, including its interest in garbage and potential attraction to a female bear. The conversation touches on observational details and speculative reasoning about animal behavior in relation to human activities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note the bear's curiosity about a blue garbage container and its interaction with humans through a ventilation hatch.
  • There is speculation about how the bear managed to board the ship, with some suggesting it followed the vessel for days.
  • One participant humorously questions whether the bear was motivated by the presence of a female bear onboard.
  • Another participant suggests that the bear's determination may have been influenced by the smell of food scraps or garbage.
  • Some participants clarify that the bear was observed over a three-day period, both at sea and on land, rather than swimming continuously for three days.
  • There are discussions about how the bear perceives odors from a distance and whether it had previous experiences with human food sources.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of hypotheses regarding the bear's behavior and motivations, with no consensus reached on the exact reasons for its actions. Multiple competing views remain about the bear's determination and the influence of odors.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the bear's behavior and motivations are not fully explored, and the discussion includes varying interpretations of the bear's actions and the environmental context.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying animal behavior, ecology, or the interactions between wildlife and human activities, particularly in polar environments.

arildno
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Or, at least, this young male suddenly appeared on board the cartographer ship "Hydrograf" 2AM.
As can be seen on the video, it was very interested in the blue garbage container, and on one of the photos, it has smelled the humans observing it through a ventilation hatch to the (locked) cabin.

Once the bear had explored the boat for an hour and a half, it climbed out again, and swam off..
http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/09/02/nyheter/innenriks/isbjorn/17944937/
 
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arildno said:
Or, at least, this young male suddenly appeared on board the cartographer ship "Hydrograf" 2AM.
As can be seen on the video, it was very interested in the blue garbage container, and on one of the photos, it has smelled the humans observing it through a ventilation hatch to the (locked) cabin.

Once the bear had explored the boat for an hour and a half, it climbed out again, and swam off..
http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/09/02/nyheter/innenriks/isbjorn/17944937/
Thank God no one wandered out on deck to round a corner only to see that cute little white fur ball staring them down. Do they have a clue how the bear got on board in the first place ?

Rhody...
 
rhody said:
Thank God no one wandered out on deck to round a corner only to see that cute little white fur ball staring them down. Do they have a clue how the bear got on board in the first place ?

Rhody...
It had followed the boat for three days, on land and in sea.
It had attempted to get on board one time earlier, in daytime, but was unsuccessful.

So, it obviously had the determination to get on board..
 
arildno said:
It had followed the boat for three days, on :bugeye: land and in sea.
It had attempted to get on board one time earlier, in daytime, but was unsuccessful.

So, it obviously had the determination to get on board..

Are you kidding me ! How many days swimming ! Did he think a hot female polar bear was onboard ?

Rhody...
 
rhody said:
Are you kidding me ! How many days swimming ! Did he think a hot female polar bear was onboard ?

Rhody...

Since the bear seemed well nourished, that might well have been the reason behind its determination..
 
arildno said:
Since the bear seemed well nourished, that might well have been the reason behind its determination..
OK, a female polar bear somehow got on board, left her scent and went undetected while she was there and left. Then, this male decided she was worth swimming for ? What other possible scenario's are there ?

Rhody...
 
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rhody said:
OK, a female polar bear somehow got on board, left here scent and went undetected while she was there and left. Then, this male decided she was worth swimming for ? What other possible scenario's are there ?

Rhody...
Polar bearesses smell like garbage?
 
Once bears get a taste for our food-scraps, cooking-grease, etc, they can be pretty determined when they catch a whiff of garbage. I'm guessing that garbage container might smell pretty good to a bear.
 
turbo said:
Once bears get a taste for our food-scraps, cooking-grease, etc, they can be pretty determined when they catch a whiff of garbage. I'm guessing that garbage container might smell pretty good to a bear.
I will give you that turbo, but following the ship by swimming even if going slow for three days ? Cmon, pickings for food can't be that slim on land, can they ? Let me put it this way, if you saw what you believed to be your soul mate, just briefly, then had to swim behind a boat for even one 24 hour period to be with her, would you ?

Rhody...
 
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  • #10
rhody said:
I will give you that turbo, but following the ship by swimming even if going slow for three days ? Cmon, pickings for food can't be that slim on land, can they ? Let me put it this way, if you saw what you believed to be your soul mate, just briefly, then had to swim behind a boat for even one 24 hour period to be with her, would you ?

Rhody...
It didn't swim for three days.
The crew had observed it over a three day period, sometimes at sea, sometimes on land.
The "Hydrograf" was on a survey mission to establish a new sea lane, and was therefore criss-crossing a fairly small area that was the habitat of the bear in the first place.
 
  • #11
The odor may have been perceived differently from a distance, perhaps cementing the bear's determination. Maybe mixed odors separate in the air? Maybe the bear had good results from previous trash dining.
 
  • #12
arildno said:
Once the bear had explored the boat for an hour and a half, it climbed out again, and swam off..
[URL]http://www.dagbladet.no/2[/quote]

I find it wonderful that a bear boards a boat and after it's done, simply swims off. :) I wonder how, or if, it every really navigates that featureless ice scape?
 
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