The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size. A boar (adult male) weighs around
350–680 kg (770–1,500 lb), while
a sow (adult female) is about half that size. Although it is closely related to
the brown bear, it has evolved to occupy a narrower ecological niche, with many body characteristics adapted for cold
temperatures, for moving across snow, ice, and open water, and for hunting the seals which make up most of its diet. Although most polar bears are born on
land, they spend most of their time at sea. Their scientific name means "maritime bear", and derives from this fact. Polar bears can hunt their preferred food
of seals from the edge of sea ice, often living off fat reserves when no sea ice is present.
The
polar bear is classified as a vulnerable
species, with eight of the nineteen
polar bear subpopulations in decline For
decades, large scale hunting raised international concern for the future of the
species but populations rebounded after controls and quotas began to take
effect For thousands
of years, the polar bear has been a key figure in the material, spiritual, and
cultural life of Arctic indigenous peoples,
and polar bears remain important in their cultures. Thank you Xavier (from
Montreal)
for this lovely card, which shows a
Polar Bear mother relaxing with her cubs.