What is the largest bear in the world? Who is the Arctic's top predator? It is the one and only Polar Bear! It's scientific name is Ursus maritimus, which means the sea bear in Latin. This apex predator lives up to its name, living near the ice-covered ocean in the Arctic. Polar Bears swim by paddling their front paws and holding their back legs flat like a rudder. They can actually swim at 6 miles an hour, making them a skilled swimmer.
Did you know Polar Bears spend over 50% of their time hunting? It's true! While they spend so much time hunting, they only eat 10-20% of the seals they catch, which depends on the time of year and other variables. Their plate is normally made up of ringed and bearded seals, as they depend on the fat to survive.
Some fun facts about polar bears include the fact that the Polar Bear can go at 40 kilometers per hour (about 25 miles per hour)! They have 42 razor sharp teeth, packing quite the crunch! In addition, their paws are surprisingly 30 cm (almost 12 inches) long, which helps the Polar Bear trudge across the hostile Arctic environment. They have 4 inches of fat that helps them stay warm in the frigid temperature! Polar Bears even have blue tongues!
Unfortunately, these majestic animals are in grave danger. The biggest reason for their endangerment is climate change. Polar Bears depend on sea ice in order to hunt, breed, roam, and den. If the rapidly growing climate change continues, then all but a few polar bears could disappear. This is not a problem that you can throw money on by building a border around the Polar Bears habitats or by deploying guards to make sure no one unauthorized can enter.. The best solution is to altogether transition away from fossil fuels. Furthermore, commercial activity, pollution, and disease detrimentally reduces numbers.
It is up to us to make sure that the polar bear survives in the future. If you want to preserve the Polar Bears so that your grandchildren will be able to see them, then we have to take action now. Doing small steps like walking instead of using a car for short distances makes a difference, as well as using energy-efficient light bulbs!
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