Photographer behind
viral image of starving polar bear raises questions about climate change
narrative
The narrative behind the viral photo of a polar bear starving,
reportedly thanks to climate change, has been called into question by the
National Geographic photographer who took it in the first place.
In an article for the August issue of National Geographic
titled “Starving-Polar-Bear Photographer Recalls What Went Wrong,” Cristina
Mittermeier talks about the intended message of the image versus the message
that was received.
“We had lost control of the narrative,” she said.
“Photographer Paul Nicklen and I are on a mission to capture
images that communicate the urgency of climate change. Documenting its effects
on wildlife hasn’t been easy,” she wrote in the article. “With this image, we
thought we had found a way to help people imagine what the future of climate
change might look like. We were, perhaps, naive. The picture went viral — and
people took it literally.”
The image she is referencing shows an emaciated polar bear with
hardly any fur covering its bony frame. In a video that was also taken of the
bear, it can be seen slowly moving through the terrain, rummaging through an
empty can.
Mittermeier goes on to say that it was the language put out by
the publication that led to the message being misconstrued.
“The first line of the National Geographic video said, ‘This is
what climate change looks like’ — with ‘climate change’ then highlighted in the
brand’s distinctive yellow. In retrospect, National Geographic went too far
with the caption.”
She estimated that 2.5 billion people saw the footage: “It
became the most viewed video on National Geographic’s website — ever,” she
said.
From there, social media and news outlets erupted over the
message that was being portrayed.
Some experts suggested a number of reason besides climate change
that could’ve led to the animal’s condition, including age, illness or even
injury.
Mittermeier admits that she couldn’t “say that this bear was
starving because of climate change.”
“Perhaps we made a mistake in not telling the full story — that
we were looking for a picture that foretold the future and that we didn’t know
what had happened to this particular polar bear.”
The photographer says that her image became another example of
"environmentalist exaggeration,” but added that her intentions were
“clear” and that if she had the opportunity to share “a scene like this one”
again, she would.