Why are polar bears endangered

Ready for an icy adventure, gang? Here at National Geographic Kids we&#;re heading north &#; far north! &#; to meet one of nature&#;s toughest animals in our 10 facts about polar bears&#;

Ten polar bear facts

1) Polar bears are found in the frozen wilds of the Arctic, in Canada, Alaska (US), Greenland, Russia and Norway.

2) These are seriously big bears, gang.

Adult polar bears can measure over m long and weigh around kg.

Polar bears habitat for kids youtube In spring the mother emerges from her den followed by her cubs. This article is about the animal. This implies that humans are primarily responsible for putting polar bears in the list of endangered species. They can be up to cm long and cm tall and weigh up to kg.

Their huge size and weight make them the largest living carnivores (meat eaters) on Earth!

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3) Polar bears are well adapted to survive in one of the harshest environments on our planet.

As well as their thick fur, they have a layer of fat, called blubber, that insulates (protects) their bodies from the frosty air and near-freezing water.

Polar bears habitat map: Phipps , They practice using their strong paws, and they show off their big, sharp teeth. Dogsleds are used for recreational hunting of polar bears in Canada. In fact, their sense of smell is so good, they can sniff out prey from up to 16km away!

Polar bears also have black skin under their glistening coat, which helps them soak up the Sun’s rays and keep warm.

4) These magnificent mammals have an incredible sense of smell which they use to track their favourite grub, seals*. In fact, their sense of smell is so good, they can sniff out prey from up to 16km away!

5) Despite their size and bulk, polar bears are excellent swimmers, and have been spotted in waters over km offshore.

They can comfortably swim at around 10km/h using their slightly webbed, 30cm wide paws like paddles in the water.

6) Although good swimmers, polar bears aren&#;t quick enough to reliably catch seals in open water. Instead, they depend on the ice as a hunting platform. They wait near seal breathing holes or at the ice’s edge for a seal to surface.

Polar bears habitat for kids They can kill a predator with just one swat of their powerful front paws. Common Name: Polar Bear. The weight usually increases during pregnancy and reaches at kg 1, lb. Polar bears are black with clear fur, so in daylight, they appear white; at night, they are invisible.

They then snatch it from the sea and&#;gulp!

Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable polar bear primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

7) Did you know that a polar bear’s fur isn’t white? It’s actually transparent with a hollow core that reflects light.

This helps the bears blend in with their surroundings &#; a useful trick, especially when hunting wary seals!

8) Female polar bears give birth to their cubs in snow dens (in November or December), where the family is protected from the harsh Arctic environment. At birth, the cubs are only around 30cm long and weigh around half a kilogram &#; that&#;s about the same as a guinea pig!

9) The polar family emerge from the den four to five months later.

The cubs will stay with their mother for about two years, during which time they learn the skills needed to survive in the Arctic.

10) Sadly, these incredible creatures are classified as &#;vulnerable&#;. The biggest threat to polar bears is climate change.

Rising global temperatures means that sea ice is melting earlier and forming later each year, leaving polar bears less time to hunt for food.

Polar bears habitat for kids video After 24 hours, people's skin began to peel off. The bottoms are wide and covered with fur to help keep the bear from slipping. Polar bears have 42 teeth. Elsewhere, a slightly larger estimated average weight of kg lb was claimed for adult females.

But the good news is you can help these amazing animals! Check out NG Kids&#; Five Top Conservation Tips for some environment-saving ideas.

*Polar bears occasionally feed on other arctic marine mammals, too, including whales, walruses and narwhals.

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