Meet the polar bear

POLAR bears evolved from the brown bear more than 38 million years ago. Their average age in the wild is 17 years and can be found in the US, Canada, Russia, Greenland and on the Arctic islands of Norway.

Up till now, there are 19 different types of polar bears that have been identified and categorised by researchers. Five of those species are categorised as vulnerable due to the decline of their overall numbers.

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POLAR bears like to keep themselves clean — probably because it helps the insulating properties of their fur. After feeding they’ll usually wash by taking a swim or rolling in the snow. They also roll in the snow to cool off.

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POLAR bear’s entire body is furred, even the bottom of its paws. Even though the fur looks white, it is actually colourless and is made with hollow tubes that scatter light and give a white appearance. Polar bears fur is oily and water repellent ... allowing them to shake dry after swimming.

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YES, they are made for cold. Their hairs are hollow, making for excellent insulation that is capable of trapping much of their body heat. But this adaptation to freezing temperatures may be the polar bear’s downfall at this time of global warming. As the earth heats up due to human-created greenhouse gases, the ice has begun to melt, putting the existence of the polar bear in jeopardy.