The cuddly polar bear is the largest carnivore on land. Its scientific name is Ursus Maritimus. Though it’s also called a sea bear it is a partially Aquatic bear. It has perfectly adapted itself to cold climatic conditions. So where is this bear found on earth? Found in Alaska, Canada, Russia. Greenland and Norway it is soon losing its habitat due to the melting of ice caps.

Let us get to know what are the characteristics of this chubby bears that have made ice as their home. To survive in the extremely cold conditions, they have a thick layer of blubber which acts as an excellent insulator. The ears and tail are comparatively smaller in proportion to the bodies which help in preventing heat loss. For these animals, it is not the cold that is a problem. The real concern is to keep the body from overheating. So, if you have watched them taking their own sweet time to walk on television, it is to prevent the body from overheating.

The body is totally covered with fur except on the nose and footpads. The hair looks white because of reflection but due to a process called oxidation by sun’s rays, the hair turns yellow or brown. Another excellent feature of the hair is, it is oily and water repellant. Polar bears feed on seals, birds and sometimes on eggs of birds. And when the food is scarce, they pass the harsh winter months by going into a state of HIBERNATION. During this time the activities in the body like heart rate drop and survive without food.  Polar Bears are solitary animals.

Generally an adult female with her cubs or a male and a female polar bear are seen together. The mother takes care of the cubs by showering constant attention, taking care of their food requirements and teaching them hunting skills. They live up to eighteen years. There is a possibility that due to the change in environmental conditions which has led to melting of ice in Polar Regions, these magnificent creatures might soon be wiped off. So it’s our responsibility to be sensitive to their survival.