You might be wondering how tall is a polar bear standing up. The average height of a polar bear when it stands on its four legs is about 4 feet and 4 inches. This is an approximate measurement of its shoulder height. However when it stands on its hind legs the bear reaches the height of 7 feet 10 inches to 9 feet 10 inches.
How Tall is a Polar Bear Standing Up?
The largest polar bear was shot in the northwestern Alaska in 1960. It measured 11 feet 1 inch tall when it stood on its hind legs. The biggest and probably the tallest polar bear ever recorded to date.
Polar bears are the most sexually dimorphic of all mammals in that the males are significantly larger than the females. Adult females reach only 5 feet 11 inches to 7 feet 10 inches in the overall total height as compared to the male’s height of 7 feet 10 inches to 9 feet 10 inches. Kodiak brown bears is just one other bear species which might have possibly the same height as polar bears.
Adult females reach only 5 feet 11 inches to 7 feet 10 inches in the overall total height as compared to the male’s height of 7 feet 10 inches to 9 feet 10 inches.
Polar bears stand on their hind legs only when they want to see as far a distance as possible. Sometimes a female polar bear attempts to check out if there is any adult male polar bear approaching. She just wants to keep her cubs safer from any possible threat. The male polar bear usually kills and eat polar bear cubs.
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Polar bears fascinate children of all ages much less first graders. They always do. That is why we have decided to come up with top most interesting facts about polar bears for first graders. These facts are pretty simple. Your kids can note down these facts if they find it useful. Let’s see how many facts do we have for first graders.
Polar bears are large animals and they live in extremely cold places such as Arctic.
Polar bears are protected with thick guard hairs which prevent them from catching cold.
We know that kids love to know about polar bears. They want to read polar bear books, watch animated movies in which polar bears play a leading role, and play with polar bear toys. That is why we have gathered fun facts about polar bears for preschoolers. Here kids are probably going to learn some of the basic facts about polar bears.
Good Facts about Polar Bears
Polar bears are large-sized animals and they live in the Arctic.
Polar bears are mammals. Sometimes they are also called marine mammals because they spend most of their time in water.
They have pretty small eyes as compared to their bulky size.
Polar bears are also called ‘ice bears’, ‘arctic bears’, and ‘white bears’.
Since polar bears live in the North Pole they are called polar bears.
Polar bears make habitats on the sea ice.
They can survive extreme temperatures of minus 50 degree Celsius.
Polar bear (Ursus mritimus) is a threatened species and in the next few decades it is likely to be enlisted on the endangered species of the IUCN. This is what scientists predict about ice bears’ future who once thought to rule the arctic habitat in thousands or even millions. The prime responsibility lies on the humans for several arctic mammals let alone polar bears have suffered badly in the last couple of centuries. Each year 50 – 60 polar bears are hunted—not only for their hides and fur but also the fact that local people’s survival is associated with the polar bear’s death. They consume bear’s meat and sell into the village market. Let’s see how can we help save polar bears from dying out.
How Can We Save Polar Bears From Extinction?
Something needs to be done on priority basis before it’s too late. It’s a now-or-never situation for all of us and it can go worse if the global climate continues to threaten the polar bear’s habitat. There are so many things that we can do to prevent polar bears becoming another endangered species.
However insignificant it might appear the truth is that every single human hand can actually save polar bears and it doesn’t matter if your habitat is miles away from polar bear’s habitat. The latter is going to benefit from your contribution.
While it may seem unlikely that polar bears are going to be extinct in the next 5 or 10 years the overall population decline, global warming, and hunting on a massive scale are already showing signs of endangerment.
Using Zero Carbon Technology
The best possible measure to counter global warming or climate change is that we better start using zero carbon technology in vehicles. This can reduce the earth’s global temperature as well as diminishing the likelihood of greenhouse gases that may destroy ozone layer in the atmosphere. A decrease in global temperature leads to a decrease in pace at which the arctic’s sea ice is melting. As it turns out the polar bear’s habitat remains safe.
Not only authorities but it is also the responsibility of common people to make environment green by planting more and more trees. Trees absorb carbon dioxide CO2 which is the chief agent (gas) for increasing global warming. Aforestations thus reduce the concentration of man-made greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The greener is the environment the safer is the polar bear’s habitat.
Stop Hunting
Goes without saying that human hunting must be stopped immediately in order to keep polar bears safe. Ice bears are probably one of the most hunted arctic mammals in Canada and Greenland. Authorities have allowed natives to hunt polar bears but only to a certain extent—to a point where the bear’s population doesn’t become redundant.
Nevertheless, there is always a chance that other people such as professional hunters may exploit this permission. One must adopt stringent policies in countries (such as Russia, Canada, and Greenland) where people are permitted to hunt polar bears legally.
Speak up for Wildlife and spread the word for Awareness
One needs to stand up and speak for the wildlife. In many third world countries the wildlife awareness is below par as people do not know what animals are endangered in their own country. Therefore if programs including seminars on saving wildlife species are conducted on yearly basis people might consider doing something worth—while they can. (See also: International Polar Bear Day 2018)
Why Do We Need to Save the Polar Bears?
The arctic ecosystem is going to be disturbed if we lose a single species let alone polar bears. It can have adverse effects on other species including those that regularly fall prey to the ice bears.
What would Happen if there were no Polar Bears?
The seals are the primary prey for all polar bears. Scientists estimate that the entire polar bear population eats as much as one million seals a year. That’s too much! Now think of a second should polar bears disappear today the seal’s population would grow to unmanageable proportions. The seals have already very few predators in the arctic. However it doesn’t end here. The overpopulation of seals means that they will require more salmons than before. The salmon population is going to be redundant.
The polar bear’s official status is Vulnerable as listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Some of the population sizes are threatened while most of them are thought to be relatively stable. Vulnerable species are those that are most likely to become endangered if the conservation efforts are not improved. There are eight significant factors which are considered in order to assess the conservation status of any species let alone polar bear.
Conservation status of Polar Bears
The overall population size of a polar bear is estimated at 25,000 – 31,000 but still many bears are thought to be uncounted. Biologists believe that worldwide figures do not reflect on the Russian polar bears population. That is to say that current numbers are highly understated.
The Condition of Occurrences or the Total Number such as Populations
The polar bear habitat mainly consists of sea ice combined with the icy water where seals are abundant. The occurrences of sea ice primarily determine the status of polar bears. The higher is the density of ice floes the greater is the probability of polar bear survival in the arctic. Currently the climate change likely influence the arctic sea ice.
The Short-term as well as Long-term Trends of the Polar Bear Populations
Studies reveal that polar bears do not appear to face short-term threats to their survival however long-term trends are not really favorable for the bear. Scientists maintain that ice bears may very well face extinction in the next 50 years or so but the argument is still debatable.
The Extend of Area Occupied by Bears
The home range of polar bears is extremely wide that even biologists could not count the number of individuals occur in a specific area. As far as the area is concerned polar bears do not seem to be threatened. Over the past 40 years the range is increased rather than limited by the animal’s presence.
Polar bears likely face threats not only from the professional hunters who kill 50 – 60 polar bears each year but also from the global climate change. Unquestionably the global temperature might change the scope of polar bear’s threats in a negative fashion.
The Environmental Specificity
Arctic is unsuitable habitat for humans to live on. That is why except for few remote areas there appears to be minimum human presence around the polar bear’s habitat. The environmental conditions favor the bear rather than her predator.
Total number of protected occurrences
The conservation societies must step forward to protect the natural habitats of polar bears which can be threatened by the climate change. At the moment the protected occurrences is almost nil which is a bad news for the polar bear status in future.
The intrinsic vulnerability of a polar bear
Some of the intrinsic factors also play a part in defining the status of a polar bear.
United States (Alaska)
Although the United States is the first country to have protected polar bears under the Marine Mammals Act the Oil and Gas development activities are highest at the North Slope in the Beaufort Sea. The operations have been largely expanded since its first installment in 1970s. Other projects such as roads, pipelines, and power lines are adversely affect the status of Alaskan polar bears.
Canadian authorities installed 85 oil explorations facilities in the Beaufort Sea that fell inside the Canadian territory. Making things worse the government is issuing permits to promote petroleum explorations. All these activities are carried out within the polar bear’s habitat—destroying it absolutely.
Norway
The Barents Sea inside the Norwegian territory thought to be relatively safer until in 1997 when government began issuing licenses for oil and gas explorations in the polar bear’s habitats. The southern Barents Sea is already showing terrible effects as a consequence of petroleum operations that continue all throughout the year. Scientists must insist on protecting the bear’s habitat from each human activity—hunting as well as development.
Similarly the Danish governments in cooperation with the Greenland government are trying to promote oil and gas explorations 200 kilometers northwest of Nuuk, Greenland. The western coast is not safe either as Ikermiut Ridge, Lady Franklin Basin, Kangaamiut Basin, and Paamiut Basin in the Labrador Sea have been opened for oil explorations. The developments in the Baffin Bay and Davis Strait are thought to leave polar bear’s habitat vulnerable ever than before.
In the Russian Barents Sea the government is planning to initiate industrial oil productions on the southeastern tip of the Sea. Besides she has already issued license to the privately-owned company to build oil-gas pipeline which might have been operationalized. All these developments have terrible effects on the geographic location of a polar bear in that the bear is forced to leave her natural habitat. The natural occurrences of the bear’s habitat is disturbed.
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HOW CAN WE SAVE POLAR BEARS?: However insignificant it might appear the truth is that every single human hand can actually save polar bears and it doesn’t matter if your habitat is miles away from polar bear’s habitat.
POLAR BEAR BEHAVIOR: The nomadic polar bear doesn’t seem to rely on one hunting technique. She uses unique strategies which take months
Polar bears are one of the few wild animals that do not breed well in captivity in comparison to its natural habitat. They are not thought to be the ideal species to be raised as a captive animal. White bears do not only need proper diet but also appropriate environment. In fact they are more likely to rely on natural environment rather than food.
Polar bears are highly adaptable to living in the frigid arctic habitat—something that they don’t often find in zoos. Scientists always believe that we should make efforts to preserve polar bear’s natural habitat instead of adopting one for zoos. Wild animals let alone polar bears are not meant to entertain people.
polar bears in captivity
Polar bears are aggressive not only in the wild but also in captivity. The captive bear is no less powerful than the one in the wild. The concept of keeping wild animals is not only bad for animals but also for humans. Many a times we have heard news about polar bears attacking people in zoos or in sanctuaries.
In 1987 in the Prospect Park Zoo, Brooklyn two polar bears attacked 11-year-old boy and killed him on the spot. Later police officers shot both bears with 20 bullets. This indeed proves one thing that loss of one precious human life and two bears are primarily caused by raising animals in captivity. Essentially zoos bring wild animals and humans closer to each other which in turn render both people and polar bears redundant.
Polar bears are one of the few Arctic animals that rely on sea ice for their prey. As the Arctic sea ice melts the bear becomes redundant. This is probably the biggest threat to polar bears as it seems more likely than before that they are going to be extinct no later than 2060. The bizarre response of some of the countries regarding climate change is worsening polar bear’s prospects each passing day. The global warming is one of the vital reasons as to why the polar bear is in danger of extinction.
Polar bears are not endangered they are threatened. Scientists hope that if we manage to stop the rate at which earth’s surface is warming we can surely restore the bear’s population as it was 100 years ago. If the ice stops melting the bear can hunt, eat, sleep (in dens) and find mate to reproduce. This will probably increase the chances of polar bear’s survival in the Arctic.
While they are excellent swimmers bears can’t navigate the entire arctic in swimming. They must search for the sea ice or they die either of starvation or drowned.
The climate change hit white bears the hardest as their only habitat is going to be vanished soon. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service “the single most important achievement for polar bear conservation is decisive action to address Arctic warming”.
How Polar Bears are affected by Global Warming?
Polar bears hunt seals on the sea ice. If there’s no ice there is no hunt. It is that simple. Rapid climate change causes the global average temperature to rise and as it turns out the Arctic ice declines ever than before. The report of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that the air temperature at high altitude increases twice as fast as the temperature at the lower altitude. This is a major concern for us all. Let’s see in what ways polar bears are affected by climate change.
Longer Summer shorter Winter
The climate change has caused long summers and short winter. The rise in temperature has also led to incomplete refreeze in winter. Now polar bears must prey and learn how to survive on land. Furthermore they are going to spend more months in starvation. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) insists that the ice-free periods are going to spread the hunger among white bears. Furthermore they said that the climate change is pushing polar bears over a tipping point.
The single most important achievement for polar bear conservation is decisive action to address Arctic warming.
Since the year 1979 the arctic sea ice diminishes at a rate of 14% each year. The fourth lowest ice recorded in the year 2016.
As the global climate gets warmer the Arctic glaciers and icebergs transform into water. Polar bears must swim greater distances in search of prey. While they are excellent swimmers bears can’t navigate the entire arctic in swimming. They must search for the sea ice or they die either of starvation or drowned. The more distance they cover in swimming the more fats they consume. Consequently bears let alone female bears lose weight and find it difficult to feed cubs.
Habitat loss and Migration
Over the past few decades polar bears have been forced to leave their original icy habitat. None of them ever live in Antarctica but scientists have spotted few individuals moving in Antarctica. This shows a significant change in polar bear’s behavior. Scientists maintain that climate change is probably the major cause of polar bear’s migration.
Forced Creativity
The arctic ice disappears and the prey becomes scarce. Polar bears must devise new hunting methods and food source on which they can survive. They are not adapted to warmer climate but they need to for it’ll become an inescapable necessity in the years to come. They must also learn to eat human rubbish, small animals and whale carcass which were never the part of polar bear’s diet.
Is it a Myth?
Few people believe that the endangerment of polar bears is highly exaggerated. They see an increase in population since 1960s when there was no legal restriction on hunting. However the truth is that the entire population is classified into 19 subpopulations many of which are thought to be declining. The population of Kane Basin and Baffin Bay are declining rapidly. Biologists fear that 80% of the current population soon fades away if the rate of global warming continues in a way it is.
Good News!
The southern Beaufort Sea population is known to be stabilized which is pretty good news. The numbers saw a rapid decline since the beginning of the 20th century. As of now the population is stable at 900.
No wonder polar bears appear white for the most part of the year.–except for warmer months when the polar bear’s coat shows yellowish color which is probably due to the oil they take from seals. Compared to adults, young bears display pure white coat one that becomes yellow with age. In captivity however white bears display a shade of green color. The greenish shade is primarily due to the algae that grow inside the bear’s hair. Let’s discuss why are polar bears white all year round?
Why are Polar Bears White all Year Round?
The polar bear’s fur isn’t actually white at all. It only looks like one. This is because there is no pigment in its fur which can change color. A pigment is a material that changes the color of the reflected material.
The bear’s furs are hollow and transparent as a result of which they reflect sunlight from the snow. The reflection indeed gives rise to white color. That is why polar bears remain white all throughout the year.
Polar bears are protected with 10-cm-thick hide and dense fur which prevent the animal from getting cold. However the bear becomes overheated when it runs longer. That is why polar bears do not usually run. Furthermore white bears cannot survive in warm temperatures exceeding 10o C (50o F) because of the thick fur.
The polar bear’s fur consists of two layers; dense underfur and external guard hairs. The guard hairs look white but they are in fact transparent. Both layers serve as leather jacket for polar bears in order to keep them warm even in minus 30 degree centigrade.
Leaving aside the tip of the nose the polar bear’s entire body is absolutely covered with furs including bear’s foot, claws, and powerful legs. The density of furs is the greatest in all Ursids. No other bear species seem to have this much furred body—not even brown bears. Perhaps this is an adaptation to survive in the extreme cold of the Arctic. The polar bear’s foot is also furred because it provides an added support to walk comfortably on the slippery surface.
Image Courtesy: Ellen Cuylaerts, Underwater & Wildlife photographer (Reproduced with Permission)
Why Do Polar Bears have Black Skin?
Back in 70s scientists studied the polar bear’s adaptations as to its ability to absorb ultraviolet (UV) light. This was thought to be the remarkable discovery since it forced biologists to think that polar bears might possibly capture energy during the absorption of light.
Later findings further suggest the ability to absorb light helps the bear to retain stable body temperature in the harsh arctic environment.
The hollow hairs of polar bears (besides attaching algae) also serve as optic fibers in that they provide path to funnel UV light to the skin.
It also explains why polar bears have black skin. The black skin is able to absorb such energy without harm.
Scientists believe that the absorption of high-frequency energy is indeed an extraordinary adaptation of white bears. Thanks to this characteristic adaptation which has helped polar bears to become Arctic’s deadliest predator—the Great Bear of the North.
Sadly perhaps this unique adaptation doesn’t seem to bear any scientific explanation. In the late 90s the scientist Koon found out that the polar bear’s hairs transmit light probably not as efficiently as it absorbs UV light.
As the light enters the fur and attempts to go down the shaft, energy is lost or perhaps absorbed, inhibiting much of the energy to get to the skin.
What Color is a Polar Bears Fur? | Why Do Polar Bears have Transparent Fur?
Polar bears have surprisingly black skin which is visible when the bear loses hair possibly due to some disease. In a bright sunny day in the Arctic the polar bear’s fur looks white and clean. It happens because the fur lacks pigment.
That being said, if it lacks pigment the coat must change to any color it gets. As it turns out it does! The fur not only appears white in fact it shows quite a few colors. When the sun rises or sets the polar bear’s coat takes on the yellow-orange hues.
Similarly the fur also plays blue color because sometimes the sunlight while passing through clouds and fogs bring blue light.
Polar bear’s fur is adapted to take on different colors from the surroundings primarily due to the nature of its hair. The bear’s hairs possess hollow medulla (core) which entertains the impurities.
They seem to show pure white coat soon after molting. During spring when the prey density is higher in the arctic waters adult males take on yellowish coat. The off-white or yellow coat is mainly due to the impurities or oil attached to the prey (seals).
Polar Bear Molting
Polar bears shed their hair in April to May but the shedding continues all summer. During fall the polar bear covers with shorter hair but in spring the hairs grow longer. They have thick underfur and pelt. The furs have varied lengths.
Why are Polar Bears White? – Video
References
Kolenosky G. B. 1987. Polar bear. pp. 475–485 in Wild furbearer management and conservation in North America (M. Novak, J. A. Baker, M. E. Obbard, and B. Malloch, eds.). Ontario Fur Trappers Association, North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Lockwood, Sophie (2006). Polar Bears. Chanhassen, MN: The Child’s World. ISBN 1-59296-501-6.
Polar bears are likely to go extinct before the end of the 21st century. This is what biologists and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature says about the iconic creatures of the Arctic. Well we might be telling stories of polar bears to our children if the climate continues to change at the present rate. Do you want to know why are polar bears going extinct in the next 50 years or so? If so, then you’d love these polar bear extinction facts.
Why are Polar Bears Going Extinct?
The climate change has devastating effects on the existence of polar bears. Over the past few decades the rise in temperature threatens the very existence of natural Arctic habitat. Sea ice disappears in warmer months and in winter the ice could not refreeze in a way it used to be. Summers are longer than winter. Polar bears are specialized hunters. They rely heavily on ringed seals for the consumption. Bears hunt seals on the sea ice and if more and more ice transforms into water the bear’s hunting platform disappears. As it turns out less than two percent of the hunts end up successful.
Scientists estimate 20,000 polar bears living today and each year they kill one million ringed seals. Were they all disappear by the next say 50 years the population of ringed seals is going to cross the optimum level.
Human Impact
While humans do not live in the Arctic except in small isolated population they do disturb the bear’s territory and range. Over the past few years white bears are beginning to feed on humans waste when the prey goes short. The unusual food source causes major trouble to bear’s metabolism. It may very well affect the polar bear’s lifespan in the long run.
Except for indigenous people, professional hunters are not allowed to hunt polar bears. In Canada these hunters kill polar bears for sports. Visitors sometimes set up a camp in bear’s territory and soon after killing the animal they make photographs with the dead polar bear. This is awful because local people shoot bears on purpose while professional hunters do this for adventure.
A sad sight of a starving polar bear. Why are polar bears going extinct? Photo by Pulse.ng
What if Polar Bears go Extinct?
Disturbs Ecosystem
White bears are apex predators throughout the Arctic Circle which means they don’t have any predator. They sit at the top of food chain. Polar bear’s extinction according to conservationists could create an imbalance in the Arctic’s ecosystem.
For instance if the bears become extinct the population of ringed seals (the primary prey) could grow to an unmanageable proportion.
Scientists estimate 20,000 polar bears living today and each year they kill one million ringed seals. Were they all disappear by the next say 50 years the population of ringed seals is going to cross the optimum level. As it turns out the population explosion disturbs the entire Arctic ecosystem.
Loss of Local Communities
The extinction of arctic bears is thought to disturb the indigenous people who rely heavily on polar bear’s fur, skin, and meat for daily consumption. Therefore the survival of polar bears is associated with the survival of indigenous communities.
If polar bears die local people die. In some of the native tribes the loss of a polar bear is not merely a loss of species in fact it is a bigger cultural demise. They speak high of bears so much so that they don’t even call them polar bears.
In the words of Bjarne Lyberth, a biologist for Kalaallit Nunaanni Aalisartut Piniartullu Kattuffiat (KNAPK) “In living memory, my people have never experienced the extinction of any animals in Greenland, so losing the polar bear would be very sad.”
Polar bears and penguins live on the opposite poles but under similar environmental conditions. It explains a lot about the evolutionary developments of both species. Polar bears and penguins chemistry doesn’t match or probably should never be for there is a predatory-prey relationship lie between the two. However dissimilar they may appear to be, polar bears and penguins share many similar behavior traits. For instance, both are aquatic species and are exceptional swimmers. In fact penguins are one of the world’s fastest swimmers.
What do Polar Bears and Penguins have in Common?
Penguins live in the South Pole while polar bears live in the North Polar. They both live at the opposite ends of the pole. Thus there is no chance that polar bears meet penguins. In order to have interactions between the two either polar bear or penguin must be a great traveler. Ice bears are known to migrate during the ice-free winter but they never get to the Southern Hemisphere.
Camouflage
Polar bear’s white coat blends with the snowy background—providing a perfect camouflage against any possible threats. Similarly penguin’s camouflage is due to their countershading appearance making it difficult for marine predators to recognize them from below.
Insulation
Polar bears are insulated by their dense furs which are also oily so that water slips away. The polar bear’s hairs are water resistant and thus keep the bear warm in the icy cold water. Penguins are insulated by a thick layer of feathers that keep the bird warm at all times.
Diving Speed
Penguins have got the ability to reach the speed of about 6 to 12 km/h (3.7 to 7.5 mph) underwater which is nearly the swimming speed of polar bears. Ice bears typically swim at a speed of 10 km/h. Baby penguins rarely dive just like baby polar bears. Polar bear cubs mount on the mother’s back during swimming.
Diving Depths
While polar bears are shallow divers rarely going beyond 5 or 6 feet underwater penguins can reach the depths of about 565 m (1,854 ft). Ice bears can remain submerged for as long as 2 – 3 minutes but penguins can stay underwater for 10 – 15 minutes.
Social Animals
Penguins are highly social animals in that they live in colonies consisting of thousands of birds each. Polar bears are lone walkers. They prefer to live a solitary lifestyle.
