8 facts you didn't know about polar bears

8 facts about polar bears that you didn’t know The African jungle has the lion, the Arctic has the polar bear. This fierce yet cuddly-looking creature dominates the icy wilderness at the top of the food chain. If visitors are lucky, they'll come across the polar bear on a cruise to Svalbard. Check out these facts about polar bears - the king of the ice! 1. Where Do Polar Bears Live? Polar bears roam the icy wilderness of the Arctic, their natural habitat stretching across the northern polar regions. Although they're born on land, they spend most of their lives on the sea ice—especially in areas with drifting or breaking ice. Key habitats include the Beaufort Sea and the Chukchi Sea. While sightings are rare north of 88°, polar bears have been observed throughout the Arctic, even as far south as James Bay in Canada. Occasionally, sea ice carries them to surprising places, including Berlevåg in mainland Norway and the Kuril Islands in the Sea of Okhotsk. In Svalbard, there are actually more polar bears than people. On certain expedition cruises, you can visit their harsh but awe-inspiring world—in places like Spitsbergen or the Alaskan Arctic. 2. How Do Polar Bears Live? Polar bears are most active during the early part of the day. They spend around 29% of their time walking and swimming, but only 5% hunting and feeding. A whopping 66% of their day is dedicated to sleeping, resting, or patiently waiting for prey. Unlike some other bears, polar bears don’t hibernate—winter is prime hunting season for them, especially when seals are more accessible. 3. What Do Polar Bears Eat? Polar bears are technically omnivores, but seals make up the bulk of their diet. They also prey on walruses, small mammals, fish, and birds—and have even been known to nibble on seaweed or seagrass. After a meal, leftovers often feed other Arctic creatures like foxes and gulls. 4. How Big Do Polar Bears Get? Adult male polar bears usually measure between 2 to 2.5 meters in body length, though some can reach up to 3.4 meters. At the shoulder, they can stand as tall as 1.6 meters. 5. How Much Do Polar Bears Weigh? On average, female polar bears weigh around 250 kilograms—but pregnant females can reach up to 550 kg. Males typically weigh between 420 and 500 kg. Their weight fluctuates depending on the season: summer can bring significant weight loss, while winter—thanks to seal hunting—helps them bulk up. 6. How Long Do Polar Bears Live? In the wild, polar bears generally live between 15 and 18 years. Some can reach 25 to 30 years, though this is rare. 7. How Many Polar Bears Are There? After intense hunting reduced their numbers to as low as 5,000–10,000 in the mid-20th century, conservation efforts have helped the population rebound. Today, it's estimated that around 26,000 polar bears remain in the wild. 8. How Do Polar Bears Stay Warm? Polar bears are built for the cold. Beneath their thick white fur lies a 5–10 cm layer of insulating fat, and their black skin efficiently absorbs heat from the sun. Even the bottoms of their paws are covered in fur for extra protection against icy terrain. 9. Are Polar Bears Endangered? Yes. Polar bears are among the animals most affected by climate change. As sea ice melts, their habitat disappears beneath their paws. Oil and gas exploration in the Arctic adds further pressure, particularly in areas where females give birth and raise their young. 10. Do Polar Bears Have Natural Predators? Nope. Polar bears sit at the top of the Arctic food chain with no natural enemies. 11. How Far Can Polar Bears Swim? Polar bears are strong swimmers. The longest recorded swim was a staggering 686 kilometers over nine days—roughly the distance between Munich and Paris. During that journey, the bear lost 22% of her body weight. With ice melting faster than ever, long-distance swims like this may become more common. 12. What Is the Polar Bear Called in Other Languages? The polar bear’s scientific name is Ursus maritimus, which translates to "sea bear." Other names reflect local culture and myth, including “Lord of the Arctic,” “Old Man in a Fur Coat,” and in Inuit mythology, Pihoqahiak, meaning “the eternally wandering one.” 13. Are Polar Bears Dangerous? Yes. As the largest land predator and the biggest member of the bear family, polar bears are powerful and unpredictable. They may look cute, but they’re fearless hunters—and they don’t shy away from humans. 14. How Do Polar Bears Grow Up? Female polar bears usually give birth to twins, who stay with their mother for over two years as she teaches them to hunt and survive. Males don’t help raise the cubs—polar bear dads are solitary by nature.