Zoologists stunned by Putin’s use of orcas hunting polar bears as a metaphor for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin sparked controversy in August by likening the use of orcas to hunt polar bears during his invasion of Ukraine to a metaphor for Russia's actions. During a meeting with educators and college students, Putin asked a teacher about his trip to the North Pole, and when the teacher mentioned polar bears, Putin remarked that orcas were nearby and hunted the bears like "small fry."

He explained that this demonstrated the natural food chain, emphasizing the need to educate children about the world and the reasons behind Russia's military operation.

However, this statement is factually incorrect and has been widely debunked by zoologists and environmental experts. The orca, known as a "killer whale," is not documented as having ever hunted a polar bear. The BBC Wildlife Magazine article titled "Can Any Animals Kill a Polar Bear?" states that while orcas are intelligent and known to hunt and kill blue whales, there is no evidence to support the claim that they attack polar bears.

Instead, the article highlights that polar bears are at the top of the food chain, and orcas and polar bears primarily feed on seals.

Experts have pointed out that the two species' different habitats and feeding habits likely prevent any direct encounters. Polar bears spend most of their lives on sea ice, while orcas tend to avoid it due to the risk of getting trapped. Although there have been instances where orcas carcasses have washed up on shore, polar bears could potentially scavenge from such carcasses, but this is purely speculative.

The zoologists interviewed by Kedr.media emphasized that there is no scientific evidence to support Putin's claim that orcas eat polar bears like "small fry."