Polar Bear

The Polar Bear is the only bear adapted to the aquatic environment. It means that the Polar Bear spends a major part of its life in water, despite the fact that it’s called the largest land carnivore. The diet of these bears consists mainly of seals and fish, so they have to swim and dive every day to get food. Polar Bears have several adaptations to their lifestyle. Their elongated body and slender neck, a thick layer of body fat, wide webbed paws and strong limbs help in swimming for many hours in cold water.

Polar Bears are very good at diving and swimming underwater. When stalking prey or navigating ice floes, they make shallow dives. To catch the prey, they can swim at depth up to 6 m and stay underwater for two minutes. The nostrils of the Polar Bear close tightly when under water. The front paws of the Polar Bear propel through the water, while the hind legs are laid flat. The maximum recorded swimming speed of the Polar Bear is 10 km per hour.

The body temperature of the Polar Bear is maintained by a thick layer of body fat, a tough hide, and a dense double coat. When air temperature drops to -40C, Polar Bears don’t suffer from cold and even have to cool down, because they can overheat when pursuing a prey on land. To avoid overheating, Polar Bears have to move slowly and rest often. On the nose and footpads of the Polar Bear the fur is absent; on the muzzle, ears, and inner thighs, the fur is not very dense and blood vessels come close to the skin surface. It helps release excess heat from the body. On warmer days, Polar Bears have to spend more time in water.

The breeding season of the Polar Bears occurs in April and May. Several males follow a reproductive female and fight until the strongest one proves he can breed. Most males cannot breed until they are 8 or even 10 years old, because the competition between males is severe. Only the largest, strongest, and healthiest males can breed. Polar Bear attacks are not fatal; they usually result in scars and minor injuries.