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Headline: Fascinating Pictures Show A Polar Bear Eating Its Greens

Caption: These fascinating – and rare - pictures showing a polar bear eating its greens. Wildlife photographer Roy Mangersnes captured the amazing scenes this month (August) as it snacked on vegetation in Svalbard, Norway. Usually sighted eating seals, seabirds and fish, this bear was spotted eating mountain sorrel directly below bird cliffs. There are several theories why the bears may do this. These include that they need the nutrients from greenery enriched with bird droppings, or they are just filling their hungry stomachs. Roy explains: “There is reports of Polar bears eating greens, but it is debated what the purpose of this behaviour might be. There would not be snow cover here at this time of the year. The ice edge, where the preferred seals are found, are roughly 150 kilometres further north. The vegetation gives the bears few options at this time of the year. “Vegetation is generally scarce in Svalbard, but where there is some coverage you should be able to find mountain sorrel. However, the densest growth is definitely below bird cliffs where the droppings give nutrition to the plants. This dense growth might be the reason they go to bird cliffs to graze. “One theory is that the one-sided diet of a Polar bear might give rise to a need for supplements. The Mountain sorrel contain a high level of vitamin C and might be a way for the seal eating predator to avoid scurvy, known by sailors as a horrible condition that can cause death. “Another theory, is that the bears are just filling their stomachs to reduce the feeling of hunger.”

Keywords: odd,oddity,offbeat,amazing,interesting,cool,animal,animals,news,and finally,uk,story,photography,wild,wildlife,nature,creature,global,warming,ice,ice sheet

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