Mammal
Polar Bear
Scientific name: Ursus maritimus
This is a polar bear. Polar bears are big white bears that love the ice!
Quick facts
- Size
- Length: 1.8–2.7 m (5.9–8.9 ft)
- Weight
- 150–635 kg (331–1,400 lb)
- Lives for
- 15–25 years
- Food
- Meat eater
- Awake
- Active day and night
- In the wild
- Vulnerable
- They need our help to stay safe.
All about the Polar Bear
Polar bears live all around the icy Arctic, where they hunt seals on the sea ice. They are strong swimmers, with thick fur and a layer of fat to keep them warm. Melting sea ice makes life harder for polar bears today.
Fun facts
One star is easy, three stars are for big explorers.
- Easy
A polar bear's fur looks white, but each hair is clear and hollow!
- Medium
A polar bear's layer of fat can be 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) thick.
- Medium
A newborn polar bear cub weighs just over half a kilogram (1 pound).
- Hard
A polar bear can smell a seal on the ice 32 kilometers (20 miles) away.
- Hard
Polar bears have swum more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) without stopping to rest.
Where does it live?
The coloured places on the map show where the Polar Bear lives in the wild.
- Asia
- Europe
- North America
- Arctic Ocean
What does the Polar Bear eat?
- SealsFavourite food
Play and learn
Games with this animal and its friends.
