Polar bear

Polar bears have evolved to live in the frozen Arctic habitat and are the largest land predators on Earth.

Polar bear’s scientific name, Ursus maritimus, means sea bear. This is an apt name for this Arctic animal, which spends much of its life in, around, or on the water – predominantly on the sea ice.

Polar bear facts

Scientific name
Ursus maritimus

Weight
350 – 650 kg (males)
150 – 350 kg (females)

Length
2 – 3 m

Lifespan
Up to 30 years, but on average 15-18 years in the wild

Population
22,000 – 31,000 polar bears worldwide

IUCN Red List status
Vulnerable (2015)

Do polar bears hibernate?
No

A group of polar bears is called…
Celebration, sleuth, aurora

A polar bear cuddling up with her two cubs — © naturepl.com / Jenny E. Ross / WWF

Why ARE polar bears so important?

As early as the 1890s, workers brought canary birds into coal mines to serve as early warning signals to toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide, that could harm people working in the mines. An individual species used as an indicator of ecosystem health has since been named sentinel species by scientists.

Polar bears are the sentinel species of the Arctic. They are the Arctic’s canary in a coal mine.

As highly sensitive sentinel species, polar bears’ decline in health has been linked to the decline in sea ice pack where seals, polar bears’ main prey, are found.

The Arctic’s expanse and remoteness makes it an especially challenging ecosystem to study and monitor. Ship-based surveys are expensive and remote sensing data from satellites lack a three dimensional structure. Since polar bears move across Arctic tundra and sea ice, they can help scientists understand what is happening throughout the entire region – from climate change to pollution.

For example, if scientists find environmental toxins in polar bears’ blood, the Arctic’s top predator, they can deduce that these toxins can be found throughout the Arctic. In other words, polar bears are an important symbol of the overall health of the Arctic.

What is WWF doing for polar bears?

WWF’s work to protect polar bears can be divided into three main areas:

Safeguarding essential polar bear habitats

WWF is working to protect essential polar bear habitats from harmful industrial activities, including oil and gas exploration, as well as the evolving impact of climate change.
We are advocating for networks of protected and conserved areas that will connect essential habitats for both polar bears and their prey, through frameworks and tools such as ArcNet and Geranium.
We are calling for the permanent protection of the Last Ice Area – the place in the Arctic where sea ice will endure the longest and an essential climate refuge for polar bears

Advancing knowledge

Together with partners, our scientific experts develop innovative tools that can be used by researchers to understand polar bear populations and their responses to climate change
We hold the five countries responsible for the conservation of polar bears accountable through advocacy and assessments, for example our Polar Bear Scorecard.
We support several initiatives by scientists, Indigenous Knowledge holders and local communities to gather information on polar bears and their habitats

Supporting the coexistence of people and polar bears

We support local-led initiatives such as polar bear deterrence programmes. These dedicated community patrol efforts drive away problem animals with flares, loud noises and other tools, which helps keep the residents and the polar bears safe.
WWF works with communities to find methods that promote coexistence. For example, we support the installation of custom-built polar bear-resistant containers for food storage, thereby lessening some of the smells that attract polar bears close to communities.
We support Arctic communities facing polar bear conflict with knowledge-sharing, through organising workshops and exchange visits between communities.

Discover more about the threats that polar bears face and what WWF is doing.