Bear (Polar)

White giant of the Arctic

The Polar bear is the biggest meat-eating land animal in the world. Adult males average 2- 2.5 m in length, and weigh 400-600 kg.

Class: Mammalia (mammal)
Order: Carnivora (meat-eating mammals)
Family: Ursidae (bears)

The polar bear is a solitary animal, and is the top predator in the arctic marine ecosystem. In fact the polar bear pretty much rules supreme in the freezing, ice-packed northern Arctic.

Living on the ice

The Polar bear lives in Arctic seas, along coasts and islands. Polar bears have also been seen hundreds of kilometres inland, but most of their time is spent on ice packs, sometimes far offshore. A good swimmer, the Polar bear sometimes covers long distances through icy cold waters.

A Polar bear is well geared to life on the ice floes. Its 5 long, curved claws on each hairy foot give it a firm grip on the slippery ice while its broad feet help it to swim superbly. They are amazingly graceful swimmers given their huge size and can swim in open water at up to 10 kph (6 mph).

The Polar bear has a thick, well-insulated fur coat and a layer of fat which protects its body from the intense Arctic cold, where temperatures rarely rise above -30°C. Only the nose and pads of the feet are exposed. The Polar bear's white coat camouflages it against the snow, allowing it to sneak up on basking seals.

 Raising a family

Female Polar bears are ready to mate at 3 years. Mating occurs on sea ice in April-May. Once mating is over, the male leaves the female to fend for herself and the family. One to 3 cubs are born 8 months later, in mid-winter.

The mother spends the winter in the snow den, suckling her cubs on rich milk which keeps the cubs warm.

They have the whole Arctic summer before them to learn new skills, but they stay with the mother bear until they are 2 or 3 years old. The mother teaches her cubs to survive. They soon learn how to slide down snow-covered slopes and swim in the icy waters.

Polar bear facts

• Polar bears do not hibernate.
• Global warming poses a severe threat to Polar bears. As sea ice melts sooner in spring and forms later in winter, there is less time for polar bears to hunt and build up body fat. Scientists believe Polar bears may disappear within 100 years if global warming continues unabated.
• The Polar bear’s fur does not actually contain any white pigment. The hair is actually translucent, but the reflection of the light makes it appear white.