'Pizzly' bears -- hybrids between polar bears and grizzlies

[left-of-center2012]

Climate change is breeding ‘pizzly’ bears — hybrids between polar bears and grizzlies

Pushed by warming temperatures, grizzly bears are increasingly migrating north where temperatures are colder, while polar bears are moving south pushed by melting ice in the Arctic Circle. Inevitably, the two species crossed paths and interbred, producing hybrids known as “pizzly bears” or “grolar bears”, depending on how you look at it. Some of these hybrids may be fertile, which raises interesting questions about what bears in the Arctic may look like in the future.

The first pizzly was identified in 2006. Although there were reports of strange-looking bears prior to this date, it was only after Roger Kuptana, an Inuvialuit guide from Sachs Harbour, North West Territories, drew attention to a bear shot by an American sports hunter that polar bear and grizzly bear hybrids were taken seriously. DNA tests confirmed that the shot bear was indeed a hybrid — the first documented one in the wild. Previously, in 2004, two pizzly bear cubs were born in captivity after polar bears and grizzly bears were allowed to mate at Osnabrück Zoo in Germany.

Since then, at least eight more pizzly bear hybrids have been identified in the wild. In a 2017 study, researchers showed through a combination of field observations and genetic analysis that all eight hybrids sprung from a single female polar bear who mated with two grizzly bears.

https://www.zmescience.com/science/climate-change-is-breeding-pizzly-bears/

[Rustyeye77]

1. Wow...very cool

[CatWoman]

2. so cute

[Iggo]

3. Grolar Bears, much better name.

[Qutzupalotl]

4. Since polar bears are endangered by loss of habitat

this is a way for their genetic information to live on, even if the species goes extinct.

[2naSalit]

5. Grizzlies aren't doing all that great either.

They were the first of two species to be listed as endangered under the ESA along with wolves. They have only lost that status by way of political interference.

I can see it as a preservation of both species since they are both in trouble.

[Shermann]

6. The Pizzlies looks pissed...they're coming for us all! nt

[GulfCoast66]

7. Polar bears are a very young species; less than 500,000 years old.

And what did they evolve from? You guessed it. Grizzly bears. Brown Bears specifically, a type of grizzly. One of the quickest evolutionary changes we are aware of. Theory is during a warm period on earth brown bears moved further north. Once the climate started cooling again evolution happened quickly.

Not surprising the change might be starting to revert as the earth warms.

[left-of-center2012]

8. Do you have a link for that info?

I'd like to read more.

[GulfCoast66]

9. Unfortunately I'm too lazy to look it up.

I’m into these subjects and when I read about the first hybrid bear I started searching. Just google it and make sure you pick you a reputable source.

Probably Science site. I read it a bit.

[roamer65]

10. A sad testament to human created climate chaos.

[Demovictory9]

11. wow

[Raine]

12. Pretty bears 🐻 🐻‍❄️ but a sad reason this is happening 😢

hopefully good will come from this, time will tell. 🤔