Adult male polar bears stand tall at an average length of 3 metres! They also pack quite a punch at 700 kgs! These features make them the largest land carnivore in the world. The only other close competitor is the Kodiak bear, a sub-species of brown bear found in Alaska.
Did you know that unlike other bears, polar bears are considered marine mammals! This is because they spend most of their time in the freezing cold waters of the Arctic Ocean hunting, swimming and playing. For this reason, they are also called sea bears or ice bears. They are only found naturally in 5 countries – the United States, Canada, Greenland, Russia and Norway.
Polar bears are excellent swimmers. They can swim for hundreds of kilometres at a stretch. They have huge paws, which helps them to swim effortlessly. Their high body fat count also helps to keep them afloat and stay warm in the freezing Arctic!
If you thought polar bear fur was white, you would be mistaken. Polar bear fur is actually colourless and translucent. It allows light to pass through it and appears to be white due to the reflected white light around it. This is a great adaptation as this bear does most of its hunting by night.
Picture Credit : Google
