Polar Bear Facts

1. It is thought that the polar bear originally evolved from brown bears around five million years ago.

2. Polar bears range five nations. These are: Alaska (USA), Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia. Polar Bears are not found in the southern hemisphere only the far northern hemisphere.

3. Polar bears are at the top of the food chain in the Arctic region. Their primary food source and prey are ringed seals.

4. An adult male polar bear weighs around 351 and 544 kilograms (775 to 1,200 pounds). They grow to their full adult size at around 8 and 14 year of age.

5. Adult female polar bears weigh around 50 to 295 kilograms (330 to 650 pounds). They grow to their full adult size around 5 to 6 years of age.

6. Polar bears have been known to live to 30 something in captivity such as zoos etc.

7. Female polar bears generally give birth to two polar bear cubs. However, it is not unknown for single cubs and triplets to be born subject to the mother polar bears health and overall wellbeing.

8. Polar bear cubs stay with their mothers until around two and half years of age. During this time their mothers teaches them how to hunt and survive in the unforgiving arctic environment.

9. Polar bears are known by various names such as:

• Ursus maritimus (Scientific name). It actually means ‘Sea Bear.’

• Sea Bear.

• Ice Bear.

• Nanuk. Isbjorn.

• White bear.

• Beliy medved.

• Lord of the Arctic.

• Old man in the fur cloak.

• White sea deer.

10. Polar bears’ coats can appear yellow in colour due to seal oils since they eat so many of them. Greedy polar bears! They may be perceived to be their whitest after a good wash leaving them seeming sparkling clean. This is particularly noticeable in the bright sunlight; even more so, just after they have moulted during their moulting season. This is generally around spring and finished by late summer.

11. Strangely, polar bears have been reported to turn green as a consequence of colonies of algae growing in their hollow hair shafts. This has been noticed at some Zoos such as the San Diego Zoo in 1979. You may be pleased to know that the polar bears were not affected or harmed in any manner. Eventually the zoo veterinarian Phillip Robinson killed the algae using a salt solution. This restored their green coats to white.

12. Polar bears have black skin with a layer of fat measuring 11.5 centimetres (4.5 inches) under its surface.

13. Polar bear paws are perfect for roaming the Arctic. Paws measure up to 31 centimetres (12 inches) in diameter. This helps the polar bear spread their weight evenly which is very comforting to know when trying to cross their icy landscape. However, during swimming their forepaws perform as large paddles and their hind paws function as rudders making moving through the icy waters fast and efficient.

14. Polar bears have special black footpads on the bottom of their paws which enable them to grip the ice and prevent them from slipping on the slippery ice. They are coated in papillae which are tiny little soft bumps.

15. When it comes to intelligence it is said that Polar bears are as clever as apes. This is based on the ability to catch and hunt down seals successfully.

16. Ringed seals are polar bears main source of food. Polar bears need ice to reach their food. During the summer months when ice floes regress and are not so prominent polar bears travel on the ice for a very long way so they can hunt down their favourite food.

17. Polar bears communicate by body language and vocalisations. They wag their heads in a pendulum fashion side to side when they want to play a game with each other. This is generally seen in a form of pretend battles. The adult bears stand on their hind legs, chin sunk to their chests with their front paws lying limp to either side of their body.

18. When polar bears wish to ask for something such as food they use a nose to nose greeting. Polite manners frequently permit a polar bear the wonderful treat of sharing in a delicious meal. However, they must remember their manners first when they encounter a polar bear who has just worked hard to catch their meal. The guest polar bear must remember to gradually approach and circle the carcass and then gently touch the other bear’s nose to ask permission to join in with the yummy meal.

19. Polar bears use chuffing sounds when stressed. This is generally heard if a mother bear is worried for her cubs' safety. Mother polar bears communicate with a low growl or soft cuff when she is disciplining her cubs. However, when a male polar bear comes near a mother polar bear with cubs, she will lower her head and rush towards the male polar bear.

20. To signify aggression polar bears hiss and snort while lowering their heads. If angry they will roar out loud, but deep growls communicate warnings such as; ‘I’m warning you do not come any closer or I will…’

21. Polar bears will attack by charging forward with heads down and ears held back against their heads. In contrast a submissive polar bear will always ensure it moves downwind of dominant polar bears since they do not want to provoke a confrontation.

22. Polar bears need to have their sleep just like humans and generally sleep for around seven or eight hours.

23. A female polar bear generally gives birth after two months of entering her specially built maternity den of two chambers. The polar bear cubs are generally born in early January, or in November or December. The number of cubs born is usually one to three cubs in number. However it is not uncommon for twins to be born.

24. When polar bears are just born they are 30 to 35 centimetres (12 to 14 inches) in length and weigh only around 0.5kilograms (around one pound).

25. The little polar bear cubs mature very quickly drinking and feeding on their mother’s milk. Since it has all the nutrients which they need to survive.

26. The mother polar bear does not eat or drink for four to eight months during her stay in the den. However, around March or April when the mother polar bear leaves the den for the first time with her cubs she shows them the way to the sea ice so she can hunt for seals and thereby breaking her fast.

27. The mother polar bear is totally responsible for her cubs’ survival until they are around two years of age. During this time they drink her milk and learn to hunt and find food on their own. Clever little polar bears!

28. Another interesting fact is that in the Low Arctic weaning happens when polar bear cubs are nearly two years of age. Yet, polar bear cubs living in the High Arctic weaning occurs when they are nearly three years of age.

29. Polar bears were first listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in North America May 2008. Canada and Russia share the same opinion in listing polar bears as a ‘Species of Concern.’

30. The problem is that Polar bears need sea ice to survive. The reason being they need it as a platform for hunting seals, breeding and occasionally for dens. The scary thing is that in 2012 research indicated that summer ice loss in the Artic accumulated to a mass bigger than North America. That is big!

31. Research studies conducted by biologists suggest that there are only 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears still in existence. It appears that around sixty per cent of those live in Canada.

32. Although there is much concern about the diminishing population of polar bears. A few people in some native Canadian communities are stating an increase in polar bear sightings on land. Some traditional hunters think that this due to an increase in polar bear population. While others feel it is due to polar bears searching for land and differing environments in desperation for survival. Since their true home is disappearing from them. Poor Polar bears.

Information gathered courtesy of the ‘Polar Bears International Organisation. If you would like to help, or adopt a polar bear you can go to: http://www.polarbearsinternational.org for more information.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14