Wildlife photographer Roie Galitz, accustomed to capturing the beauty of wild nature, had never witnessed such a spectacular scene. In early July, while leading an expedition for nature and photography enthusiasts along Norway's Svalbard archipelago toward the North Pole, Galitz documented an extraordinary encounter between polar bears and a sperm whale carcass at 82 degrees north, well above the Arctic Circle.
The dramatic scene unfolded when a friend spotted the whale carcass on the ice. A sperm whale lay on its side amid the scattered ice floes, slowly decomposing with its mouth agape in a silent cry. Its blackened flesh was dotted with orange spots, resembling the rusted hull of an old ship. The composition was so striking that an observer might not immediately notice the polar bear casually walking across the cetacean's back.
Galitz and his crew spent nearly 24 hours navigating their icebreaker ship through the pack ice to reach the carcass, where they discovered a male polar bear dozing nearby. The photography course that Galitz was leading, typically structured around daily shooting and image editing sessions, took on an entirely new dimension when he leaned over the boat's hull to get as close as possible and capture the female polar bear that eventually joined the scene. "The participants, since it was their first time there, and me on my 34th trip, didn't realize the incredible experience they were living through," Galitz confided.
It is extremely rare to observe sperm whales at this latitude, as these ocean giants prefer the temperate waters of the globe but avoid ice. In addition to alerting other photographers in the region, Galitz contacted two cetacean specialists: Michelle Dutro from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Sean O'Callaghan from the Atlantic Technological University in Galway, Ireland. Both were enthusiastic about observing such a scene because it is extremely rare. "Sperm whales move in deep waters, so they usually stay on the west coast of Svalbard, and only males. Females and young stay further south, in warmer waters," he explained.
The experts consulted by Galitz hypothesize that the whale was pushed northward by currents and winds. As for the cause of death, scientists found no visible clues. They suggest the possibility of old age, exposure to a deadly toxin, or a collision with a ship. "Without more specific elements, I think it's impossible to determine," Galitz concluded.
Since Galitz's expeditions typically follow opportunities rather than a fixed schedule, the ship remained stationed near the carcass for an additional 24 hours, during which the photographer deployed a drone to fly over the scene. "That's when you really grasp the scale of things. I had an idea of what to expect, but I didn't think it would be this grand," he recounted. On board, Galitz had a screen that allowed him to see what the drone was capturing and adjust the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO sensitivity as needed. "As I was piloting the drone, I started shouting and swearing! As a photographer, in this kind of situation, you really get carried away," he laughed. "The day I stop getting excited will be the time to stop taking pictures."
Throughout that July day, the group remained near the sperm whale while Galitz photographed it in fog, broad daylight, and under the midnight sun. A few hours after their arrival, a female bear joined the male, and the photographers observed the two predators struggling to pierce the cetacean's thick skin. Claw marks appeared on the tough hide as the female licked, bit, and spread her jaws trying to reach the flesh. "Watching her circle around, climb up, come down, dive into the water, try every possible means to succeed, it looked like she was frustrated," Galitz recounted.
At times, the bears lapped fresh water from melting ice, rolled on their backs, and leaped all around. Under their paws, the carcass yielded and bounced, decomposition releasing pockets of gas. "It's like a huge air cushion, much less solid than you'd imagine," the photographer noted. The ship's crew was fortunate to escape the less pleasant odors of the process. "Being in the Arctic is a bit like being in a big freezer," Galitz smiled. "But sometimes, an odor catches up with you."
The images obtained were so spectacular that some internet users accused Galitz of producing or retouching them using artificial intelligence. "Unfortunately, this is something we see more and more today. When an image appears really unique and exceptional, people automatically become more skeptical," he explained. "I understand why, because many have been fooled before, and once trust is broken, it becomes difficult to naively believe the images you see." As frustrating as it may be, Galitz always takes the time to respectfully explain that he has not only several thousand shots from the day, from different angles, but also the raw files. "But I think that's the reality we live in," he concluded.
Eventually, the group resumed their journey, and Galitz learned from colleagues that a few days later, the carcass had been pushed away by north winds and eventually disappeared. The following week, returning with another group of photographers and adventurers, he confirmed that the sperm whale was no longer there. "It's so unpredictable and fragile," he said. "A scene you observe today probably won't be there tomorrow."
