Gallery of photos from Svalbard
Photos from Svalbard Archipelago.
Ringed seals (Pusa hispida) are the most abundant seal in Svalbard and a vital Arctic species, heavily dependent on sea ice for breeding, resting, and escaping predators. As the primary prey for polar bears, they are small, solitary seals that create breathing holes in thick ice and live, on average, 25-40 years
Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) are a unique, small subspecies endemic to the Svalbard archipelago. Adapted to the high Arctic with short legs, small heads, and thick coats, they are non-migratory and eat mosses, grasses, and lichens. The population thrives at ~22,000, often foraging on wind-swept ridges
The Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) is one of the most common seabirds in Svalbard, with an estimated breeding population of approximately 270,000 pairs across the archipelago. They are iconic Arctic cliff-nesters, easily identified by their "mewing" call and black wing-tips
Walruses are highly social, gathering in large herds to rest on sea ice or land, and they feed on the ocean floor, primarily eating clams and other mollusks using suction. They are found in the Arctic region, with two distinct subspecies: Atlantic and Pacific.
