Polar Bear (1) and Cape Buffalo (4)

Polar bears are perfectly built for life on Arctic ice, but melting sea ice makes hunting harder every year. Cape buffalo are huge, powerful animals—the largest cattle species in Africa—and they usually rely on strength, speed, and awareness to avoid predators like lions.

In the Arctic, a polar bear has been patiently hunting seals near breathing holes in the ice. Far away in Tanzania, a thirsty Cape buffalo heads to the river for a big drink. As he lowers his head—whoosh!—he’s magically dropped onto slippery Arctic sea ice.

Startled but calm, the buffalo backs away from the crumbling ice edge. Not far off, a polar bear slips silently into the freezing water and begins swimming closer, barely making a ripple. The buffalo, still focused on drinking, scrapes at the ice with his hooves.

Suddenly, the polar bear bursts from the water. The buffalo bolts, running fast—but the icy ground slopes back toward the sea. While the buffalo is a strong swimmer, the polar bear is faster and more skilled in Arctic waters.

Using the cold and the ice to his advantage, the polar bear overpowers the exhausted buffalo.

Polar bear wins the battle.