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Learn about the largest living carnivores on Earth, their amazing adaptations, hunting skills and conservation status. Find out how polar bears use their sense of smell, swim, blend in with their surroundings and raise their cubs.
- Polar bears are classified as marine mammals. Because they spend most of their lives on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean depending on the ocean for their food and habitat, polar bears are the only bear species to be considered marine mammals.
- A polar bear skin is actually black. Beneath all that thick fur, polar bears have jet black skin. The polar bear’s fur is also translucent, and only appears white because it reflects visible light.
- They can swim constantly for days at a time. As well as reaching speeds of up to 6mph in the water, polar bears can swim for long distances and steadily for many hours to get from one piece of ice to another.
- Less than 2% of polar bear hunts are successful. Although about half of a polar bear’s life is spent hunting for food, their hunts are rarely successful.
Jun 29, 2024 · Learn about the polar bear, the largest and most powerful carnivore on land, and its adaptations, diet, and threats. Find out how climate change is affecting its sea ice habitat and population.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
The polar bear is the largest extant species of bear and land carnivore, with adult males weighing 300–800 kg (660–1,760 lb). The species is sexually dimorphic, as adult females are much smaller. The polar bear is white- or yellowish-furred with black skin and a thick layer of fat.
Learn about the largest bear in the world and the Arctic's top predator, which faces a vulnerable future due to climate change. Find out how WWF is protecting polar bears and their sea ice habitat through research, education and action.
From a love of blubber to enormous paws, polar bears are remarkable animals, with many unusual adaptations that help them thrive in the Arctic. Here, 10 of our favorite facts about what makes polar bears tick.
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Learn how polar bears survive in the Arctic, hunt seals, and protect their cubs. Find out how climate change threatens their habitat and population.
