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polar_bears [2022/05/19 06:36] (current)
aga created
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 +====== Polar Bears ======
 +
 +==== Apex predators ====
 +Polar bears are apex predators in their distribution area - around the North Pole and in the Arctic Sea. [([[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8525099/|National Institute of Health]])]
 +
 +==== Largest terrestrial predators ====
 +Polar bears are among the largest terrestrial predators. [([[https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Polar-Bear|The National Wildlife Federation]])]
 +
 +==== The most carnivorous ====
 +Polar bears are the most carnivorous of all bears. They are also by far the most likely to hunt humans. [([[https://www.livescience.com/27436-polar-bear-facts.html|Live Science]])]
 +
 +==== Food ====
 +The main food of polar bears are seals and predominantly ringed seals. Bears kill them with a paw strike. [([[https://polarbearsinternational.org/polar-bears-changing-arctic/polar-bear-facts/diet-prey/|Polar Bears International]])]
 +
 +==== 50 and 75 seals ====
 +It is estimated that polar bears need to hunt between 50 and 75 seals per year to survive. [([[https://skandinaviskdyrepark.dk/en/the-animals/polar-bear/seals/|Skandinavisk Dyrepark]])]
 +
 +==== Feeding on carrion ====
 +Polar bears may feed on carrion, such as the remains of walruses or whales. Between 10 and 20 bears may congregate at a single carcass. [([[https://animals.mom.com/feeding-habits-polar-bears-2823.html|Pets on Mom]])]
 +
 +==== 19 miles per day ====
 +Polar bears can travel 19 miles per day for several days. [([[https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/blog/10-profound-polar-bear-facts|Ocean Wide]])]
 +
 +==== Caring for the young ====
 +After birth, female polar bears care for their young for more than 2 years. They do not become pregnant again during this time. [([[https://seaworld.org/animals/all-about/polar-bear/care-of-young/|Sea World]])]
 +
 +==== Population ====
 +The polar bear population is estimated at 25,000 individuals. [([[https://www.arcticwwf.org/newsroom/features/|Arctic WWF]])]
 +
 +==== Debby the Polar Bear ====
 +The lifespan of polar bears is 15 to 18 years, although they live longer in captivity and the record-holder, Debby bear from the Winnipeg Zoo, lived to the ripe old age of 42. [([[https://www.reuters.com/article/oukoe-uk-bear-idUKTRE4AH97W20081118|Reuters]])]
 +
 +==== Camouflage ====
 +The hair of polar bears is translucent and their coat is white in color so they can camouflage themselves well in their surroundings. [([[https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/why-do-polar-bears-have-white-fur-and-nine-other-polar-bear-facts|World Wildlife]])]
 +
 +==== Black skin ====
 +Polar bear skin is black in color so it absorbs sunlight and allows the animal to stay warm. [([[https://polarpedia.eu/en/black-skin-of-a-polar-bear/|Polardpedia]])]
 +
 +==== Excellent swimmers ====
 +Polar bears are excellent swimmers. [([[https://arctickingdom.com/why-polar-bears-love-to-swim/|Arctic Kingdom]])]
 +
 +==== Mating season ====
 +Polar bears are solitary, pairing up briefly during the mating season, which occurs in April and May. [([[https://polarbearagreement.org/polar-bear-biology/reproduction|Polar Bear Agreement]])]
 +
 +==== Cross breeding ====
 +Polar bears can produce fertile crosses with brown bears. This means that the two species are quite closely related to each other. [([[https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2010/05/when-polar-bears-and-grizzlies-breed-they-can-produce-fertile-offspring-why-can-t-other-species.html|Slate]])]
 +
 +{{tag>fauna biology science geography}}
  
polar_bears.txt · Last modified: 2022/05/19 06:36 by aga