Polar bear
Ursus maritimus
Animal
Polar Bear
The polar bear, a majestic white giant, is native to the icy Arctic region. As the world’s largest land predator, it’s perfectly adapted to its cold environment with thick blubber and dense fur. Primarily a carnivore, the polar bear’s diet mainly consists of seals. With powerful limbs, it’s an excellent swimmer, often covering long distances in search of food. Despite its strength and dominance in the Arctic, the polar bear is vulnerable due to melting sea ice caused by climate change, which impacts its hunting grounds and habitat. This iconic bear not only symbolizes the beauty of the Arctic wilderness but also the urgent need for conservation efforts in a rapidly changing world.
4 animals20 articles
Animals: Polar Bear
Polar bear
Ursus maritimus
Grizzly bear
Ursus arctos horribilis
Arctic fox
Vulpes lagopus
Killer whale
Orcinus orca
Articles
Strength & bite force
How strong is a polar bear?
Polar bears are extremely strong, but their bite, swipe and lift have never been measured. Their size, paws, skull and…
Conservation & population
Grizzly polar bear hybrids: are pizzly bears real?
Grizzly polar bear hybrids are real but very rare. All eight known wild pizzlies trace back to one female polar…
Habitat & range
Where do polar bears live?
Polar bears live only in the Arctic, on sea ice across five countries. Canada has about 16,000 of them, Alaska…
Lifespan
How long do polar bears live?
Wild polar bears live 15 to 18 years on average, and females often reach 20 to 25. The oldest known…
Diet & feeding
What do polar bears eat?
Polar bears live mainly on ringed and bearded seals, and often eat only the fatty blubber. Fish, birds, eggs and…
Adaptations
Polar bear adaptations: how the body, gut and habits beat the Arctic cold
Two layers of fur, fat up to 10 cm thick, paws as big as dinner plates and a gut built…
Conservation & population
Are polar bears endangered? Status, population and threats
Polar bears are not endangered: they are Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and Threatened in the US. About 26,000…
Speed
How fast can a polar bear run?
Polar bears can sprint at about 40 km/h (25 mph) for short distances, but they overheat fast. Grizzlies are quicker,…
Comparisons
Polar bear vs grizzly bear size: which is bigger?
Polar bears are bigger than grizzlies on average: males weigh 350–590 kg against 180–270 kg. Only the biggest coastal Alaskan…
Behaviour
Do polar bears hibernate?
Most polar bears do not hibernate; they hunt seals all winter. Only pregnant females spend winter in a snow den,…
Speed
How fast can a polar bear swim?
Polar bears can swim at about 10 km/h (6 mph), but they are built for distance, not speed. One tracked…
Records & rankings
How big is a polar bear? Height, length and weight
Adult male polar bears are about 2.4–2.6 m long, 1–1.5 m tall at the shoulder and weigh 350–600 kg; females…











