22. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership - Now 30% off. It is a large bear, approximately the same size as the omnivorous Kodiak bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi). These rules help keep the polar bear population where its at today. Models developed by some scientists predict an increase in polar bear starvation as a result of longer ice-free seasons and a decline in mating success, since sea-ice fragmentation could reduce encounter rates between males and females. Although polar bear meat is consumed by aboriginals, the liver is inedible and often poisonous because of its high vitamin A content. Corrections? Polar bears live in countries in the Arctic Circle, including these: The breeding time is 8 months. Polar Bear Description. It is the largest extant bear species, as well as the largest extant predatory carnivore. Polar bear facts for kids is a collection of some of the most amazing and interesting facts about polar bears.The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is the largest terrestrial carnivore in the world. They eat immediately after hibernating. Male polar bears are much larger than the females. Description. They have a long thin but well developed neck, highly developed hindquarters and a straight profile (Brown 1993, p 51). On average, polar bears on all fours are 3.5 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 meters) tall, but when standing on its hind legs, an adult male polar bear may reach more than 10 feet (3 m). It grows to about 1.6 metres (5.3 feet) tall at the shoulder and 2.2–2.5 metres in length. Bears do not generally communicate by sound and usually are quiet, but they do growl at times when feeding, when being challenged by another bear or by humans, and when competing for mates.…, These include the polar bear (as much a marine as a terrestrial animal), caribou, arctic wolf, arctic fox, arctic weasel, arctic hare, brown and collared lemmings, ptarmigan, gyrfalcon, and snowy owl. 2) These are seriously big bears, gang. The muzzle is elongated with a "Roman-nosed" (slightly arched) snout. The bear's blubber, meat, and fur all help the Inuit survive. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the category of vulnerable, as distinct from the category of endangered, means that polar bears have a slightly lower risk of extinction than if they were endangered. The tail is 7–12 cm (3–5 inches) long. The cub stays in the den with the mother until March, then, they all come out. But they play with other bears they meet. Lengthwise, they are 7.25 to 8 feet (2.2 to 2.5 m) from head to rump. They begin to learn to hunt and swim. Polar bears live in one of the planet's coldest environments and depend on a thick coat of insulated fur, which covers a warming layer of fat. These bears are massive, with the largest ever recorded standing just over 11 ft. tall on its hind legs! Polar bears use their incisors to shear off pieces of blubber and flesh. It has black skin under the white fur. A baby polar bear has fluffy white fur which protects the cub from extreme Arctic chill. Except for one subspecies of grizzly bear, the polar bear is the largest and most powerful carnivore on land. [9] Several groups of European polar explorers were seriously ill after eating livers. Another adaptation is polar bears’ use of only their front limbs when swimming, which is found in no other four-legged mammal. Polar bears have 42 teeth. The broad feet have hairy soles to protect and insulate as well as to facilitate movement across ice, as does the uneven skin on the soles of the feet, which helps to prevent slipping. They stand just over 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall at the shoulder and can reach a length of 8 feet (2.5 meters). As their prey is aquatic, polar bears are excellent swimmers, and they are even known to kill beluga whales. It one particular case, a polar bear was spotted swimming for 9 days at a stretch covering a distance of 687 kilometers across frigid Bering Sea. …strong swimmers, most notably the polar bear. Beneath all that thick fur, their skin is jet black. After 24 hours, people's skin began to peel off. Then they use their claws to slowly push themselves across the ice.[8]. Polar bears prefer ice that is subject to periodic fracturing by wind and sea currents, because these fractures offer seals access to both air and water. Polar bears are excellent swimmers and are capable of swimming for days without break. Except for one subspecies of grizzly bear, the polar bear is the largest and most powerful carnivore on land. It has no natural predators and knows no fear of humans, making it an extremely dangerous animal. [9], From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, This article is about the animal. They are adults by this time and weigh 330 to 660 pounds (150 to 300 kilograms). A polar bear's head is oblong and relatively small compared to body size. Then they come closer and touch noses. Young remain with their mothers until they reach sexual maturity. While they do spend most of their time in the water, they also spend time on land. Polar bear fur is translucent, and only appears white because it reflects visible light. While adult polar bears are perfectly insulated by the dense white fur, baby polar bears develop lighter furs in the initial days following the birth. They can kill a predator with just one swat of their powerful front paws. It is the most carnivorous species of all bears. It was also greatly respected for its strength and spirit. Their diet mainly consists of ringed and bearded seals because they need large amounts of fat to survive. Sometimes, because of global warming, this is impossible and the cubs die before they have had a chance to live. They are able to move easier in water though as they are very good swimmers. Polar bear paws are ideal for roaming the Arctic. Description of the Polar Bear When you think of a polar bear, you think of thick, white fur. They eat mostly seals and fish. Paws:polar bear paws are perfect for roaming the Arctic. [9] Inuit people knew that eating the liver could cause sickness and death. A polar bear might catch only one or two out of 10 seals it hunts, depending on the time of year and other variables. They practice using their strong paws, and they show off their big, sharp teeth. Each hair on a polar bear is hollow, and the skin beneath its fur is black. The polar bear was the most dangerous animal to hunt. Polar bears investigate the submarine USS Honolulu 450 kilometres (280 mi) from the North Pole The polar bear is found in the Arctic Circle and adjacent land masses as far south as Newfoundland Island. Numerical changes to each population occurring between 1998 and 2013 are shown. [30] Sunlight can pass through the thick fur, its heat being absorbed by the bear’s black skin. A male Polar Bear standing on its back legs may be 3 metres (10 feet) tall. Polar bears are the largest carnivorous land mammals on Earth. The polar bear's liver contains a lot of vitamin A. Finally, the bear's skull was set on an ice floe to release its spirit back into the Arctic. Then, a polar bear dance was held. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. With the help of over 7,000 of the world’s best wildlife filmmakers and photographers, conservationists and scientists, Arkive.org featured multi-media fact-files for more than 16,000 endangered species. Mating occurs in spring, and implantation of the fertilized ovum is delayed. Polar bears are listed under a variety of classifications depending on international, national, and regional regulations. They spread out their legs and lay their bellies flat on the ice. The bears are hunted especially by Inuit people for their hides, tendons, fat, and flesh. Cubs weigh less than 1 kg at birth and are not weaned until after they are two years old. They are strong and fast, and can run as fast as 25 miles (40 km) an hour for a short distance.[4][5]. Polar bears are mostly carnivorous. People think polar bears can become 25–30 years old in nature, but in captivity (for example, in zoos), they can become up to 45 years old. 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