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The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a large bear native to the Arctic and nearby areas. It is closely related to the brown bear, and the two species can interbreed. The polar bear is the largest extant species of bear and land carnivore, with adult males weighing 300–800 kg (660–1,760 lb).
Learn about the polar bear, the largest bear and the Arctic's top predator, and how climate change is threatening its survival. Find out how WWF is protecting polar bears and their habitat through research, advocacy, and community initiatives.
Jun 1, 2024 · Polar bear, great white northern bear found throughout the Arctic region. The polar bear is the largest and most powerful carnivore on land, a title it shares with a subspecies of brown bear called the Kodiak bear.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Polar bears are the largest carnivorous land mammals on Earth. They are about seven to eight feet long, measured from the nose to the tip of their very short tail. Male polar bears are much larger than the females. A large male can weigh more than 1,700 pounds, while a large female is about half that size (up to 1,000 pounds).
Majestic creature of the far north, the polar bear is the world’s largest terrestrial carnivore. Its Latin name, Ursus maritimus, means ‘sea bear’: an apt name for this amazing animal, which spends much of its life in, around, or on the water – predominantly on the sea ice.
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Polar bears are forever linked to the Arctic sea ice, where they hunt their seal prey. The bears are found in five range states: the U.S. (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Greenland, and Norway (Svalbard). Scientists have divided them into 19 populations, some of which are shared by more than one country.
How do polar bears survive their Arctic habitat? Is climate change affecting their population? Learn how polar bears have adapted to life on top of the world.
