The polar bear is the newest of the eight bear species. Polar bears (or Ursus Maritimus – to give them their posh Latin name) can be found pretty much anywhere inside the Arctic Circle – Canada, Russia, Greenland etc, and are the largest living land carnivore with males coming in at 400-600kg and females at 200-300kg. When not hunting, polar bears are resting, perhaps as much as 20 hours a day. If a polar bear doesn’t eat for seven to ten days, it can slow its metabolism until it finds its next meal. Here are a few more facts about the Polar … Join us and you can help stop the illegal wildlife trade and tackle other threats facing our natural world. Their scientific name Ursus maritimus means “maritime bear” and derives from this fact. Because they spend most of their lives on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean depending on the ocean for their food and habitat, polar bears are the only bear species to be considered marine mammals. Polar bears main prey consists of ringed seals and bearded seals, though they will also scavenge carcasses or settle for small mammals, birds, eggs and vegetation. The biggest threat to polar bears today is not hunting but the effects of global warming and pollution. Because they spend most of their lives on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean depending on the ocean for their food and habitat, polar bears are the only bear species to be considered marine mammals. Polar bears can reach speeds up to 40 kilometer (25 miles) per hour on land. The largest male polar bear on record weighed 2209 pounds. 2. Ten polar bear facts. Polar bears normally live alone. 9. As recently as 2006 genetic testing confirmed the existence of polar bear-grizzly bear hybrids, also known as ‘grolar bears’ or ‘pizzly bears’. They can detect their prey from 32 km (20 mi) away and can smell a seal’s breathing hole in the ice more than 800 meters (0.5 mile) away. A polar bear’s liver is so rich in Vitamin A that it may be poisonous to human being if consumed. Polar bears are extremely large animals. 9 Interesting Facts about Polar Bears by anastasiia - February 27, 2014 In celebration of Polar Bear Day, we’ve gathered some interesting facts and great photos of these beautiful animals. Polar bear has no natural predators and knows no fear of humans, making it an extremely dangerous animal. We have managed to gather some of the most amazing 21 facts about polar bears. It's International Polar Bear Day and what better way to celebrate these brawny yet somehow still adorable bears — I mean, have you seen our photos of Siku? Adult polar bears can measure over 2.5m long and weigh around 680kg. Amazing Facts About the Polar Bear. While both sexes look alike, males are about twice the size of females. Residents of Churchill, Canada, leave their cars unlocked to offer an escape for pedestrians who might encounter polar bears. Male polar bears can weigh up to 800kg and are twice the size of females. There are only 2,400 humans on the Svalbard archipelago which is pretty crazy when you realize that there are about 3,000 bears … Mating take place on the sea ice in April and May, when polar bears congregate in the best seal hunting areas. Males weigh 849 to 904 pounds while females averaging 331–551 pounds. Top 10 facts about polar bears. Fortunately, people are learning to adapt to the polar bear's presence and take preventative measures to reduce the risk of conflict. Tired of your usual 9-to-5? Most polar bears live up to 15 – 18 years. Female poplar bears typically nurse their cubs for two and a half years. Certain bears in Russia have become a The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is the largest bear species. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the population is only 20,000-25,000 of polar bears in the world. 1-5 Bear Facts 1. People think Polar bears can become 25–30 years old in nature, but in captivity … Interesting facts about Polar Bears. All polar bears alive today can trace their ancestry back to one female brown bear who lived in Ireland around 20,000 to 50,000 years ago. Canada considers polar bears a species of special concern under the National Species at Risk Act. The polar bear was the mascot for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada. These bears often hunt with little success. Polar bears can also be exposed to toxic chemicals such as pesticides through their prey, which can affect a bear's biological functioning and ability to reproduce. Built to stay warm in their cold habitat, polar bears sometimes overheat and have to cool off in the chilly water. Polar bear cubs learn to freeze and remain still while their mother hunts. Polar Bears have an excellent sense of smell. One of the surprising facts about polar bear is that the polar bear is related to the brown bear. Let's take a look at these amazing polar bear cubs facts. On occasion, polar bears kill beluga whales and young walruses. Strong, sharp claws are also important for gaining traction, for digging through ice, and for killing prey. Polar bears can weigh more than 1300 pounds and span more than 8 feet, 6 inches from nose to tail, making them the largest carnivores to currently walk the Earth. Polar bears are black with clear fur, so in daylight, they appear white; at night, they are invisible. An adult male ranges from 7.9 to 9.8 feet in length and weighs 770 to 1500 pounds. Polar bears typically weigh between 900 and 1,500 pounds, according to the Library of Congress. Polar Bear Facts: 10 Interesting Facts about Polar Bears. No way, you say. They also roll in the snow to keep themselves cool when they feel hot. Pregnant females can … Male polar bears can weigh up to 800kg, and are twice the size of females. They can swim for up to 160 kilometer (100 miles). They also scavenge on carcasses of beluga whales, walruses, narwhals, and bowhead whales. The ice edge and pressure ridges where fractures and refreezing occur provide the best hunting ground. On a regional level in Canada, polar bears are listed as threatened in both Manitoba and Ontario under provincial endangered species … Fact 1: The Largest Land Predator Because they spend most of their lives on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean depending on the ocean for their food and habitat, polar bears are the only bear species to be considered marine mammals. Polar bears are the world’s largest terrestrial carnivore. However they will grow pretty fast in the first couple of months. At up to 2.5 m in size, Polar Bears are not only the largest bear but also the world’s biggest land carnivore. Polar bear cubs (one to four, usually two) are born November through January in a den. 32 Facts About Polar Bears. The oldest known polar bear in the Arctic lived 32 years. While climate change remains the greatest threat to the polar bear’s survival, that is not all that the predator is up against. Polar bears have 42 teeth. Adopt an animal today and help protect some of our most endangered wildlife and support other vital work around our planet. A young polar bear on the shores of Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada in November waiting for the sea ice to re-form. Polar bears are excellent swimmers. In the U.S., polar bears are listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. After feeding polar bears usually wash by taking a swim or rolling in the snow. The broad feet have hairy soles to protect and insulate as well as to facilitate movement across ice, as does the small bumps on the soles of the feet (called papillae), which helps to prevent slipping. Today I want to write about polar bears because they are a powerful creature with very cute cubs. Female polar bears … They can reach a total length of 9 feet 10 inches. Polar bears can sniff out seals – their main food – from up to 1 km (0.6 miles) away and even under 1m (3 ft) of snow. By Treye Green @TreyeGreen 02/27/14 AT 1:14 AM. Polar bears were separated from brown bears … However, polar bears have evolved a set of special traits for hunting and surviving in the cold northernmost regions of Earth. 2) These are seriously big bears, gang. 3. Because of expected habitat loss caused by climate change, the polar bear is classified as a vulnerable species. Polar bears are not actually white rather they have hollow hairs covering their body which reflects in light resulting in white color. They have a mouth full of 42 extremely sharp teeth. Although about half of a polar bear’s life is spent hunting for food, their hunts are rarely successful. They can even detect a seal in the water beneath a metre of compacted snow. Polar bears typically live between 15 to 18 years in the wild. Male polar bears weigh about 350 to more than 650 kg (770 to 1,435 lb) and are about 2.5 to 3 m (8.2 to 9.8 ft) long. Here are five interesting facts about them: Polar bears are the largest living land carnivore, with adult males growing up to 2.6 metres in length. This, in addition to the fact that they can measure up to 3 metres long, makes polar bears the largest land carnivore in the world. 5 Weird Facts About Polar Bears. They offer some pretty interesting employment opportunities, such as the position of polar bear spotter.. Female polar bears would rather build their dens in “old snow“ from previous years rather than the freshly fallen snow. The total population of approximately 26,000 wild polar bears are divided into 19 units or subpopulations. This makes them even bigger than Siberian tigers. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Shares. You’re about to find out 15 interesting facts about the polar bear to answer that in under 2 minutes… Polar bears are the largest land-based carnivores in the world. Polar Bears Evolved from Brown to White for Camouflage Male Polar Bears Have Longer Hairs on Their Front Legs … Then you might want to occasionally check the government of Svalbard’s online job board. Two tiny scoops of snow from a polar bear track revealed not just the DNA of the polar bear that made it, but even from a seal it had recently eaten. Polar bears spend over half their life hunting. Polar bears also have a thick layer of fat. — than to share some I-never-knew-that facts about the Arctic-roaming creatures.. Their favorite prey is usually ringed or bearded seals. WWF is working with researchers to track polar bears in the Arctic to understand the impact that climate change and other threats are having on them as well as helping to monitor their health.Â, We’re also advocating for governments to recognise and mitigate the effects of a changing Arctic on these bears.Â. Humans can’t handle that much vitamin A. Polar bears keep warm thanks to nearly 10 cm of blubber under the skin. Their preferred habitat is the pack ice of the Arctic Ocean. Young Polar bears stay with their mothers for 1–2 years, and they become mature when they are 5–6 years old. Melting sea ice from climate change has increased human-polar bear conflicts when hungry polar bears go searching for food in the summer. Bears … Pregnant females can weigh as much as 500 kg (1,100 lb). You can unsubscribe at any time. Learn more about the threats to polar bears and how we are working to solve them. 4 Polar Bear Spotting Is A Real Occupation. The hybrid physically resembles an intermediate between the two species, but as wild hybrids are usually birthed from polar bear mothers they are raised and behave like polar bears. Interesting facts about northern goshawks, Interesting facts about Fiordland penguins, Interesting facts about Yorkshire Terriers. We need your help to give rangers the strength and safety they need, and to tackle poaching and demand for products like ivory. - Source 2. Polar bears are probably the only bears that have long fascinated biologists not only for their super strength but for their ability to swim great distances. Under the skin is a layer of insulating fat. Polar bears are classified as marine mammals. Polar bears can reach speeds up to 40 kph (25 mph) on land and 10 kph … Sign up to be kept informed about our conservation work and how you can help such as fundraising, campaigning and events. They can comfortably swim at a speed of 10 kilometer (6 miles) per hour. Polar bears number in the first five most popular animals with zoo visitors. 9 They don't hibernate like other bears. This hair can be up to six inches, or 15 centimeters, thick! It only appears white, because it reflects visible light. Contact with oil spills can reduce the insulating effect of a bear’s fur requiring them to use more energy to get warm, and can poison them if ingested. By Tanya Lewis 27 February 2014. But the largest polar bear ever recorded weighed in at 2,210 pounds—which is more than a metric ton. Male polar bears weigh about 350 to more than 650 kg (770 to 1,435 lb) and are about 2.5 to 3 m (8.2 to 9.8 ft) long. Polar bears are stocky, with a long neck, relatively small head, short, rounded ears, and a short tail. Although polar bears are one of the largest land carnivores in the world yet baby polar bears are only the size of a ground squirrel when they are born. Mother and cubs emerge from their den in late March or April. Polar bears are the world’s largest terrestrial carnivore. Once it has found the hole, the bear will wait patiently until the seal comes up for air to attack. Although polar bears appear white to the eye, their fur is actually transparent. View our Cookie Policy for more information, Sign up to get the latest WWF news delivered straight to your inbox. Although most polar bears are born on land, they spend most of their time on the sea ice. Scientists today use a working estimate of around 22,000 to 31,000 polar bears still exist today worldwide. We know from our polar bear facts that polar bears have a thick layer of hair near their skin. Their fur isn’t strictly white, it’s actually transparent. Female polar bears weigh about 150 to 250 kg (330 to 550 lb) and are about 1.8 to 2.5 m (6 to 8.2 ft) long. Bears are large dog like mammals found all around the world. They are found in a wide range of habitats in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, mainly the Americas, Europe and Asia. National Polar Bear Day: 20 Interesting Facts About Polar Bears. We use cookies to analyse how visitors use our website and to help us provide the best possible experience for users. Female polar bears weigh about 150 to 250 kg (330 to 550 lb) and are about 1.8 to 2.5 m (6 to 8.2 ft) long. What are Interesting Facts about Polar Bears? The reflection of light makes them look white. They like to keep themselves clean. In some places, these bears have learned to eat at garbage dumps. The total gestation period is 195 – 265 days . There are eight species of bear: American black bear, Asiatic black bear, brown bear, giant panda bear, polar bear, spectacled bear, sloth bear and sun bear. Polar bears are some of the most inspiring animals in the world, but how much do you know about them? 1. They may scavenge to avoid starving, or they may fast until ice forms again. They can get overheated. A female polar bear will have an average of five litters of cubs in her lifetime. The scientific name for the polar bear is ‘ursus maritimus’. In captivity sometimes they turn green when algae grow in the … On average, their heights are an incredible 8.5 feet (males) and 6.5 feet (females). If you eat a polar bear liver, you’ll die. Polar bears can see well underwater, spotting potential meals 4.5 meters (15 feet) away. They are fascinating creatures that have evolved to survive in some of the harshest and coldest environments on earth. One of the most interesting facts about polar bears is that they like to keep themselves clean, so when they get dirty, they roll in the snow or take a swim. The ability for polar bears and grizzly bears to interbreed is unsurprising when you consider that polar bears evolved from brown bears as recently as 150,000 years ago! These animals are abundant in fat, which is necessary for polar bears to consume to build its bulk and keep warm. You've … In areas where the sea ice melts completely, polar bears must move ashore in the summer. They have a nictitating membrane, or third eyelid, that allows them to see underwater and protects their eyes in blowing snow. The remaining 9 have not been assessed as they are data deficient – we simply don’t have enough information about them to know how they’re doing. Polar bears have an excellent sense of smell, with the ability to detect seals nearly a mile away (1.6 km). They mainly eat seals… One of the surprising facts about polar bear is that the polar bear is related to the brown bear. Beneath all that thick fur, their skin is jet black. Polar bears are solitary and overwhelmingly carnivorous, feeding especially on the ringed seal but also on the bearded seal and other pinnipeds. Polar bears in the wild can live up to 30 years. 10. Some black bears are born white and are called Spirit Bears. Fact 1: Polar bears and penguins do not live in the same place. An innovative new technique developed by WWF and DNA specialist firm SPYGEN allows scientists to isolate DNA from a polar bear’s footprint in the snow. Scientists estimate that there are around 25,000 polar bears worldwide. They are not albino or polar bears. Polar bear fur is translucent, and only appears white because it reflects visible light. Unlike brown bears and black bears, polar bears do not hibernate, and only pregnant females over-winter in dens. Here are 30 Interesting Bear facts. Polar bears are not actually white in colour but rather have clear hollow hairs covering their bodies. Of these just 1 subpopulation is increasing, 5 are stable and 4 are in decline. Under their fur, polar bear skin is actually black. Their large paws are specially adapted for swimming, which they’ll use to paddle through the water while holding their hind legs flat like a rudder. Two-thirds of polar bear … They clean their bodies by rolling in the snow. A male polar bear can measure up to 10 feet long and weigh 1,500 lbs., which is about the weight of eight human adults. However, polar bears have evolved a set of special traits for hunting and surviving in the cold northernmost regions of Earth. © Jon Aars / Norwegian Polar Institute / WWF-Canon, © naturepl.com / Steven Kazlowski / WWF. The oil and gas industry is turning its eyes to the arctic, and with it comes the potential risks of habitat destruction from oil exploration work. Polar bears have a very strong sense of smell, which they use to find seal breathing holes in the ice. Polar bears live alone. This layer of fat, like the layer of fat found in whales, is called blubber. Bears will travel as much as 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) north and south, as the ice melts and freezes. If they move, the mother disciples them, with a whack to the head. The world’s oldest polar bear, orphaned as a cub in the cold Russian north and raised in captivity, has died aged 42. 1) Polar bears are found in the frozen wilds of the Arctic, in Canada, Alaska (US), Greenland, Russia and Norway. As well as reaching speeds of up to 6mph in the water, polar bears can swim for long distances and steadily for many hours to get from one piece of ice to another. Polar Bear Facts for Kids Adult bears weigh as much as 772–1,543 pounds. Polar bear blubber can be up to 4 inches, or 10 … The effects of global warming and pollution underwater, spotting potential meals meters... In dens usually wash by taking a swim or rolling in the wild can live up to and. Eat a polar bear cubs facts in light resulting in white color bears with. 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