Special Investigation
Sustainability. Endangered Species 'The Polar Bear' by Grant C and Leanne W
by Year 6 (6)

Leave my habitat alone! Endangered Species The Polar Bear The Polar bears favourite habitat is a combination of pack of ice, open water and coastal land. The Polar bear can be found in five areas - Greenland, Norway, Canada, United States, the former Soviet Union and also they can be found in the Arctic sea pack ice usually within 300km of land. Some Polar bears wonder up to 200km inland. The Polar bears coat of fur varies from bright white to shades of yellow. The Polar has small ears, black eyes and nose. When the Polar is fully-grown its height can reach to 1.6m to its shoulders and its length can reach to 2.2 - 2.5m long. The male can weigh up to 400-500kg and a female's about 300-350kg. A Polar bear can live up to about 30 years. The Polar bear is carnivorous, eating mainly ringed seals although sometimes they feast on some land mammals, carcasses of marine mammals and reindeer, berries etc are also form part of their diet. The Polar bear is one of the worlds largest land carnivores and the largest of the bear family although the North American grizzly bear and Kodak bear can weigh more than a Polar bear sometimes over 900kg. The Polar bears are endangered because people in North America have hunted them for fur and their meat but later on man hunted Polar bears for sport and the population of Polar bears fell to an estimated 8,000 to 10,000. Fortunately the sport was banned. The current population is 20,000 - 40,000 however they are still an endangered species. Natural gases and oil are being dumped in the Arctic bay, which could destroy the Polar bears habitat and food supplies.Toxic chemicals are being dumped into the sea. Scientists believe that these chemicals could effect the polar bears reproduction. Tourist activity has increased in the area. This means that humans come into contact more frequently with polar bears, leading to harassment or even killing in defence. The polar bears will soon be leaving the area in search of peace. The most serious threats to the future of the polar bear are the destruction of their habitat, interference from tourists and the pollution of the sea. If these threats are not restricted the population of the great bear may once again begin to decline. Grant