Ice Bear
Most mammals have a warm climate and plenty of food. But some of them settled in conditions in which it seems to be simply impossible to live. This primarily relates to polar bears. They often confuse and say that they live in the same place as the penguins, but this is a profound error. The answer to the question of where polar bears live is quite simple: in the Arctic, beyond the Arctic Circle. They are also called polar or marine, because they swim great.
Is he really white?
Although these mammals are called white, in fact, their fur is colorless. Just because the inner surface of the tubes that make up the bear’s hair is uneven, and the effect is crushing of light. As a result, reflecting at various angles from the surface, the light creates a white effect. So, as you see, in fact the fur of such a bear is colorless.
Get to know each other
This species appeared relatively recently. According to scientists, it is no more than 250 thousand years old. It is believed that he had a common ancestor with an ordinary brown bear, only white could adapt to life in extreme conditions. After all, where polar bears live, eternal snows and ice. To date, there are not so many individuals, so this species is listed in the Red Book. Most often, mammals can be found between ice floes and icebergs, some of which go up to hundreds of kilometers from the coast. But being on ice does not threaten them, because they are excellent swimmers. Without rest, they can sail up to sixty miles.
Nutrition and Reproduction
White and fluffy handsome - this is how we usually think of a polar bear. The photo usually presents him as a cute creature, but in reality he, like his brown counterpart, is a fierce predator. It feeds mainly on sea hares, seals and walruses. Polar bears are very good and patient hunters. Able to track game for a very long time. A special delicacy of a predator is fat and seal skin, so it can wait for hours at the breathing holes. The harsh conditions of the territories where polar bears live have left their mark on the food system. A polar bear can eat an amount of food equal to 10% of its own weight in an hour. In search of food, he can wander, his seasonal movements are quite long. To reproduce offspring, they use special territories called "maternity hospitals", and lairs are also located here. The hibernation of a polar bear is short - only two months, at which time the bear often wakes up to look after the baby.
In search of truth
Why is this beautiful and powerful predator has small populations and is listed in the Red Book? Of course, living conditions in the Far North, where polar bears live, leave their mark, but the man himself played a significant role in this. These animals were fiercely hunted everywhere, and even today. Moreover, everything is appreciated: polar bear meat, fat and fur. It was the size and magnificence of the skins that made him the coveted prey of any hunter. Back in the 1900s, even commercial sports were held for hunting a bear. This led to a reduction in livestock. Therefore, today the polar bear is listed in the international Red Book, and hunting for it is prohibited.
