Habitat

Discover the Arctic regions where they live.

Diet

Learn about their diet and hunting methods.

Conservation

Learn about the threats they face.

Fun Facts

Interesting facts about polar bears.

Polar Bear Evolution

~1.3–1.6 million years ago: First modern estimate of when brown bear and polar bear lineages began to diverge.

~600,000 years ago: Nuclear DNA studies showed when polar bears started diverging from brown bears.

Between ~343,000 and 479,000 years ago: Estimate based on recent genomic models of nuclear DNA divergence.

~150,000 years ago: Evidence of the first known polar ancestor and divergence according to mitochondrial DNA.

Between ~120,000–125,000 years ago: Genomic sequencing of a skull reveals ancient hybridizations between polar and brown bears.

~50,000 years ago: Mitochondrial DNA of all modern polar bears unified thanks to an Irish brown bear female.

From ~160,000 to ~200,000 years ago: Periods of gene flow between brown and polar bears.

Modern era: Polar bear as a specialized Arctic predator, but with low genetic diversity and vulnerable to sea ice melting.

Fun Facts

Expert swimmers

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are strong swimmers: they can swim for hours and travel long distances between icebergs and hunting grounds. Cases have been documented of individuals swimming more than 100 km in the open ocean, but typical distances are smaller; They swim propelled by their large webbed feet and use their fur and blubber for insulation.

Sense of smell

The smell of polar bears is exceptional: they can detect their prey (e.g. seals) more than 1 km away and under meters of snow or ice; Studies estimate detection at a few hundred meters to several kilometers depending on the conditions. Claims of "30 km" or "under ice" detection are exaggerated.

Patient hunters

Polar bears employ wait-and-stalk tactics to hunt seals, including waiting at vents or on ice edges where seals come out to breathe. They can remain motionless and silent for hours before attacking, taking advantage of their camouflage and patience.