POLAR BEARS
(Ursus Maritimus "Bear of the Sea")
Click on images to inlarge.
Current population: Approximately 40,000
|
|
| Physical Information
|
Adult Male |
|
| Approximate Length: |
2.4 - 3.4 m (8 - 11 ft.) |
| Approximate Height at Shoulder: |
1.2 - 1.5 m (4 - 5 ft) |
| Average Weight: |
545 kg (1200 lbs.) |
| Approximate Life Span in Wild: |
25 years |
Adult Female |
|
| Approximate Length: |
2 - 2.8 m (6 - 9 ft.) |
| Approximate Height at Shoulder: |
1 - 1.2 m (3 - 4 ft) |
| Average Weight: |
364 kg (800 lbs.) |
| Approximate Life Span in Wild: |
25 years |
| Polar Bears live in the Arctic and sub Arctic
regions of the globe and are the largest of the bear family with adult Polar
Bear reaching an average weight of 545 kg (1200 lbs) and the largest recorded
weight of 1000 kg (2200 lbs). Polar Bears would be the largest land based
carnivore if it was considered a land based carnivore. But because a Polar Bear
spends so much time on the sea ice scientist's have classified the Polar bear
as a marine mammal. |
 |
Some Polar Bears never set foot on
land, they wander the ice packs in search of seals, which is their primary food
source. Polar Bears are solitary animals except for a mother with cubs. Cubs
stay with their mothers for about 2.5 years and in that time they will learn
how to hunt and survive on their own. After which time the mother will chase
off the cubs when she is ready to breed again. Mating for Polar Bears is from
early April to early June. Male Polar Bears have little to do with the cubs
other than impregnating the female and will often kill the cubs to bring the
female back into estrus. Female Polar Bears though will fiercely protect the
cubs even if it means her own life. About 40% of Polar Bear cubs never reach
maturity but once a bear reaches maturity there is very little that it has to
worry about, other than humans or a larger bear. Current Polar Bear population
is estimated at 40,000 and thanks to the cooperation of all the northern
countries the number of Polar Bears have been slowly increasing.
|
 |
 |
Polar Bears have a wide variety of
adaptations to help them cope with their environment. Polar Bears fur is thick
(approximately 152 mm (6 in)) and is not white but translucent and hollow like
optic fibers, the fur helps to transfer the heat of the sun to the skin which
is black. This fur combined with the layers of fat beneath the skin and the
large body mass keeps the Polar Bear toasty warm even in freezing cold weather.
The Polar Bear is so well insulated that the only thing that shows up on an
inferred heat detector is the exhaled breath from the bear. Other unique
adaptations that the Polar Bear has is that it has a second eyelid that helps
to prevent snow blindness and acts like a diving mask to help the bear see
under water. Polar Bears are strong swimmers and have semi-webbed paws which
help them to swim great distances. Some Polar Bears have been known to swim for
over 160 km (100 mi) nonstop. The paws of the Polar Bear are wide to help
distribute the weight while walking on snow and have hair and small indents on
the soles to help with traction on the ice. Their claws are short and sharp and
can easily rip open their prey.
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
A Polar Bear's eyesight and hearing
is about the same as human's but their olfactory system is about a hundred
times more sensitive than that of a human's. Their sense of smell is so acute
that they can locate seals even if the seal is under a meter (3 ft) of snow and
ice. They use their sense of smell to locate seals out on the ice flows and
locate the seals breathing holes. Once a Polar Bear locates a breathing hole it
will sit and wait for the seals to return. When a Polar Bear approaches a seals
breathing hole he must do it very quietly so Polar Bears have learned to place
the outer edge of their paws down first and to roll their paw to help reduce
noise that they would make under the ice. The Polar Bear then waits next to the
breathing hole remaining motionless until the seal surfaces for air. When the
seal surfaces the Polar Bear grabs the seal by the head killing it instantly
then drags the seal through the hole and proceeds to consume as much of the fat
from the seal as it can. About 68 kg (150 lbs) of fat can be consumed in 1
meal.
|
 |
 |
Polar Bears are highly intelligent
and they have an excellent memory. Polar Bears are very curious creatures who
like to explore their surroundings looking for food and sometimes toys to play
with. Polar Bears are capable of solving complex problems and will retain the
information that they gain from it and continue to learn and adapt throughout
their entire life. Most of the pictures you see here were taking in Churchill
Manitoba Canada where some of the Polar Bears congregate while waiting for the
sea to freeze again so that they can go hunt seals. While in Churchill the
otherwise solitary Polar Bears will interact with other Polar Bears and even
play with others to help pass the time. This large gathering of Polar Bears
attracts another animal to the area called humans. About 12,000 people a year
flock to Churchill to see the Polar Bears and because of this Churchill has
been dubbed "The Polar Bear Capitol of the World".
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
