About Polar Bears.
Polar bears are the largest of the bear species.
The scientific name is Ursus maritimus which means "sea bear" in Latin.
By exploring this website, you will learn many fascinating facts
about Polar Bears such as their habitat and where they are located in our world,
their physical characteristics, their behavior, what they eat, and much more.
Where Polar Bears Live
Polar bears are loacated in Arctic Circle, which includes parts of North America, Europe, and Asia.
This map is an aerial view of the Arctic Circle and the purple
shading and outline shows the region where polar bears are found.
Physical Characteristics
Polar bears fur can be white or yellowish in color. The males can weigh from 550-1700 pounds,
while females usually are 200-700 pounds. Polar bears can stand up to 10 ft tall.
The polar bear's life span is 20-25 years.
Behaviors
Polar bears are usually not this nice to anyone. Polar bear adults are often found by themselves,
unless they are mating or raising cubs. The only time polar bears den is when they are pregnant.
The pregnant female stays in the den until the cubs are born
(the cubs usually only weighing one pound!) and the female nurses
them until they are about 20 pounds. The polar bear family does not leave the den until spring time.
Polar bear cubs usually stay with their mother until about 2-3 years of age.
What Polar Bears Eat
Polar bears primarily eat seals. The polar bears will stalk seals that are laying on the ice,
wait for seals to come up through the ice, or swim after the seals.
Polar bears will also eat walrus, whale carcusses, birds, and vegetation during the summer months.
# Biologists estimate their population at 22,000 to 27,000 bears, of which around 15,000 are in Canada.
# Class: Mammalia (Mammals)
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Ursus
Species: maritimus
Shoulder height: up to 5.3 feet (1.6 meters)
Length: 6.6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters)
Weight: males?660 to 1,760 pounds (300 to 800 kilograms); females?330 to 660 pounds (150 to 300 kilograms)
Life span: 25 to 30 years in the wild, up to 45 years in zoos
Gestation: 6.5 months
Number of young at birth: 1 to 4, with two being the average
Size at birth: 1.3 pounds (.6 kilograms)
Age of maturity: males?10 to 11 years; females?5 to 6 years
Copenhagen Zoo has started to build a large new polar facility also will house the seals and birds.
The facility will be named 'The Arctic Ring. The visitors will include being led through
the acrylic tunnel that polar bears can swim all the way around. Moreover, it will look like
polar bears swimming along with seals. Prey animals will be separated from predators by a thick pane.
Facts about the Arctic Ring: Area: approx. 3,100 m2 Financed using the donation of 150 million.
from A.P. Moller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation. Engineer: Strunge Jensen A / S Architect:
Dall and Lindhardtsen A / S Construction started 2010, the facility will open early summer of
the 2012th llustration: Cenario
