Natural Habitat The Polar Bear (or sea bear, whose scientific name is Ursus maritimus) is a marine mammal unique to the waters of the circumpolar Arctic, and is found in the wild in five countries: Canada, Greenland (territory of Denmark), Norway, the USA, and the former USSR, as well as on the high seas where jurisdiction is not clearly defined. It is truly a marine mammal as it depends on the sea for its existence, is well adapted to the water, and can swim and submerge with ease. Its natural habitats are continental coastlines, islands, sea ice, and water.

Vulnerable nature Polar bears are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) commonly known as World Conservation Union. This means that this special sea Bear may move onto the endangered list if the factors which are harmful to its populations in the wild (mainly habitat degredation) continue at their present rate. Its management is guided by an international agreement signed in 1973 by the five polar bear nations. Polar bears are the only bear species with international protection.

Population The current wild population of polar bears is estimated to be between 21,000 and 28,000 individuals

Climatic conditions Polar Bears successfully live and breed in zoos and other wildlife exhibits all around the world, including in the Tropics (eg. Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia) and hot, arid regions (eg. Arizona, USA). Contrary to popular belief, polar bears, which are only relatively recently derived from the brown bear, are quite capable of flourishing in the wild under climatic conditions which, for particular periods, would appear to most to be most un-Arctic in nature (eg. Polar Bear Provincial Park, a wild polar bear denning area along the Hudsons Bay in Canada, experienced a temperature average of 35oC over two weeks in the summer of 1998).

Size The average land polar bear is 2.5 to 3 metres long. Males grow to 2 or 3 times the size of females.

Largest polar bear The largest polar bear ever recorded is a male who weighed 1,002 kg and was 3.7 metres long.

Weight The average weight of a polar bear is male - 350 to 650 kg, female - 150 to 250 kg.

Paws Their paws are up to 30 cm in diameter.

Coats Polar bears coats can vary from pure white to creamy yellow, depending on season and angle of light. Their coats are 2.5 to 5 cm thick and their fur is oily and water repellant.

Skin Polar bears have black skin

Swimming They are strong swimmers (up to 10 km/hr), and can swim for several hours at a time over long distances. They usually swim underwater at depths of only 3 to 4.5 metres; it is estimated that polar bears do not dive deeper than 6 metres.

Speed on land Polar bears can run as fast as 40 km/hr for short distances.

Social characteristics They are basically solitary animals. Only 2 social units exist breeding pairs, and adult females with cubs.

Breeding Breeding happens in April and May. The females breed about once every 3 years, and males reach sexual maturity at around 6 years, females at around 4 years.

Gestation period The gestation period is about 8 months Females need to gain at least 200 kg in weight for a successful pregnancy Cubs are born between November and January The most frequent litter size is 2 At birth, a cub weighs between 454 and 680 g and is about 30 cm long A cub is chased away at about 30 months old.

Hunting Polar bears have been victims of hunting, however, restrictions have helped the population recover from an estimated 10,000 polar bears in 1968.

Media information: Emma Bain Communication Executive Sea World (07) 5588 2222 or 0408 759 659