Have you ever heard about unique facts about polar bears? Polar bears are one of the largest type of bears on earth that have thick white fur. Their white fur functions as a camouflage for their body over the snow.
Other than that, the white fur on polar bears helps them to survive extreme cold. It can be one of the unique facts about polar bears that other animals haven’t such as animals that live in the South Pole.
As a native animal in the North Pole, polar bears commonly live as a predator that eats other animals. They are typical carnivores that eat meat as their main diet.
If you are wondering about other unique facts about polar bears, here we have some of them on the list below. Let’s check them out!
1. The original skin is black
One of the unique facts about polar bears is that their original skin is black. Their fur is translucent and reflects the light properly with the color of the snow. Their coating fur protects their skin as well which is different from animal that live on two realms.
The skin black on polar bears has a specific function to keep them warm. Other than that, their black skin is also capable to absorb the warmth of the sun. It helps polar bears to survive during extreme cold in the Arctic.
2. Marine mammal
One of the unique facts about polar bears is that they are classified as marine mammals. Sea ice in the Arctic is their home, and they love to spend their time the most underwater. Polar bears are good swimmers under the sea ice to find food. Fish, seal, or other animals can be their food.
They can dive deep under the Arctic Ocean up to 13.9 meters and more. Polar bears can be swimming under the sea ice for days. They can even swim up to 100 km non-stop which is different from animals that live in Antarctica.
3. Great traveler
One of the unique facts about polar bears is that they are typically a great traveler. They can travel more than 3000 km per month. Their home is even larger, which can range from about 600000 square kilometers.
Polar bears are popular for their agile movement despite their big body. They move faster than you think to travel around the ice to find food. That is why they could easily move during migration season.
4. Sized as four predators
One of the unique facts about polar bears is that one of them is sized as four predators. They are so big among other predators that living in the Arctic and on Earth as well. Adult polar bears can weigh up to 600 kilograms.
Female polar bears are smaller compare to males. The adult female polar bear can only weigh up to 290 kilograms. Both of them can grow up to 2.9 meters tall when standing on their legs.
5. Cubs are living in dens
Baby polar bears that call cubs commonly live in dens. That can be one of the unique facts about polar bears that are different compared to other bears. The den functions as the home for cubs.
Other than that, dens are made by female polar bears when they are pregnant. Once they give birth, the den commonly helps cubs to keep them warm. The dens help them from predators and adult polar bears as well.
6. Bad hunter
One of the unique facts about polar bears is that they are bad at hunting. The research finds that only around 2% of their hunting is successful. Even though they are classified as predators who eat meat, they find it hard to hunt their prey.
Polar bears’ diet is meat, and sometimes they even beat younger bears or cubs for food. Other than that, they hunt seals, smaller mammals, dens, and other animals that live in the Arctic.
7. Have unique paws
One of the unique facts about polar bears is that they have unique paws. Their paws can be the size as big as a dinner plate for size 30 cm. The fur between their feet helps them to keep warm when walking around the ice land.
Every paw of a polar bear contains small soft bumps that help them to hold the ice from slipping. The biggest paw helps them to swim under the sea ice. Even if it is big, it helps them to swim deeper and move easily.
8. Struggle with threats more than climate change
Polar bears are popular smart animals in the Arctic. They are even capable to survive the extreme cold. They also survive during summer when the food supply is limited, and they have to move further to explore food.
One of the unique facts about polar bears is that they struggle a lot with threats more than climate change. The oil and gas industry that built around the Arctic area becomes a dangerous thing for their existence.
The oil and gas that contact directly with polar bears’ fur or skin will damage them. The industry also affects them to manage their energy to keep warm. If they ingested the oil or gas, it will poison them.
These unique facts about polar bears commonly help them to survive in the Arctic. As the weather can change drastically into an extreme one, they could easily survive based on the unique facts on their body.