A polar bear has made our Aquarium their home. He cames in December 2002. Eddy, a male, was born on December 10, 1999.
Scientists estimate there are between 20,000 and 25,000 polar bears in the world.
The largest polar bear ever recorded was a male weighing 1,004 kg (2,209 lbs).
In the wild, polar bears live on average 15 to 18 years.
At birth, the cubs measure 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14 inches) long and weigh a little over half a kilogram (around a pound).
The polar bear’s thick fur includes a dense undercoat (underwool) and hairs of varying length called guard hairs. Besides this fur insulation, the bear has a layer of blubber 7 to 11 cm thick. These insulating factors keep it warm with almost no loss of heat. The insulation is so effective that adult males overheat very quickly while running.
Since polar bears give off no detectable heat, they cannot be seen with infrared photography (heat is radiated by infrared light).
Despite their enormous weight, they are champion swimmers. They have been seen swimming for over 97 km (60 miles) with no break.
Polar bears have excellent underwater vision. They can pinpoint food that is over 4.6 m (15 feet) away.
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