Polar Bears are amongst the most fascinating and most beautiful animals in the world today. They are basically found inhabiting the countries of Russia, Norway, Greenland (Denmark), Alaska (United States) and Canada. With the global warming and the resultant shrinking of sea ice, polar bears have become an endangered species. Though there has been no proper census on the population of polar bears in the world, their number is expected to be somewhere around 20,000 to 25,000 bears, with about sixty percent of the population living in Canada. If you want to know more about polar bears, check out some amazing information and facts given about them in the following lines.
Polar Bear Facts
- Common Names: Polar Bear, Sea Bear, Nanook (Inuit), Wapusk (Cree), Lord of the Arctic, etc
- Class: Mammalia (Mammals)
- Order: Carnivora (Carnivores)
- Family: Ursidae (Bear Family)
- Genus: Ursus
- Species: Maritimus
- Height (on all fours): about 1m (3½ inches)
- Height (on hind legs): around 3 m (10 inches)
- Weight (males): 550 kg (1200 lbs)
- Weight (females): 300 kg (660 lbs)
- Paws: Up to 30 cm (12 inches) across
- Teeth: 42, which grow a little each year
- Tail: 10 cm (4 inches) long
- Running Speed: Up to 40km/h (25 mph) for short distances
- Swimming Speed (small distances): Up to 10km/h (6 mph)
- Swimming Speed (large distances): Up to 96km (60 mph)
- Age: 20-30 years
- Oldest Captive Polar Bear: 41 years
- Oldest Wild Polar Bear: 32 years
- Natural Habitat (where do polar bears live): Russia, Norway, Greenland (Denmark), Alaska (United States) & Canada
- Diet: Seals, Beluga Whales, Walruses and, sometimes, seaweed
- Reproductive Age: 4-5 years
- Number of Offspring: Two
Interesting Information about Polar Bears
- Male polar bears are known as boars and female polar bears are known as sows.
- A group of polar bears is called a ‘celebration’.
- Polar bears hear the same range of sounds as people.
- Polar bears have good eyesight, with excellent depth perception.
- Polar bear have a sharp sense of smell and can detect a seal buried 3 inches-deep in snow, from 1 km away.
- Polar bears can dive about 4.5 m (15 inches) underwater.
- A polar bear's coat is about 2.5 to 5 cm (1-2 inches) thick.
- There is a thick layer of fatty-blubber inside the body of a polar bear, which helps him warm.
- Under the pure white hair, the skin of a polar bear is totally black.
