The Polar Bear - See Them At The Toronto Zoo, Toronto Ontario
The Polar Bear
Polar bears are considered the largest land carnivores in the world, matched only by very large individual Kodiak brown bears. Both sexes differ in size throughout their range; males being much larger than females and continuing to grow for a longer period of time. These bears have long, massive skulls, necks and bodies with long legs and large paws. The tongue is black and the eyes brown. The surface of the skin is also black. Fur colour varies slightly with the season. Male polar bears weigh between 400 – 600 kg, and have been recorded up to a maximum of 800 kg. Females are smaller than the males weighing up to 300 kg, and when pregnant up to 460 kg. Polar bears are 2.5 – 3.5 m long.
You will find the polar bear in all Arctic seas and coastlines. The Alaskan coast north of Bering Strait, off the coasts of Greenland and along the Eurasian Arctic coast from Spitsbergen to Wrangell Island. Rare stragglers reach Iceland. In Canada, they are found along the Arctic coasts from Alaska to Labrador and from the tip of James Bay to northern Ellesmere Island. Polar bears do roam as far as 150 kilometres inland into the coniferous forests, where they live very differently from the polar bears which belong to the high Arctic.
The ringed seal is by far the most common prey of the Polar Bear. They also eat bearded seal, harp seal and hooded seal. Young walrus are sometimes taken. During the summer months they feed upon the shoreline carrion, fish, mussels, crabs, starfish, lemmings and the eggs and nestling young of waterfowl and cliff-dwelling birds. They will also graze on kelp, grasses and eat mushrooms and crowberries.
Normally they are solitary animals outside the breeding season, the exception being a mother with cubs. Polar bears mate in mid-summer. They give birth to one to four cubs somewhere between late November and early January.
If you enjoed this article on the Polar Bear, check out this one on the Arctic Wolf, click here.
* Information provided by The Toronto Zoo, Toronto, Ontario Canada. The Zoo has over 5,000 animals representing over 500 species. With 287 hectares (710 acres) The Toronto Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the world.
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Thats a big bear!! I need to go to the zoo soon and see all of the animals!!
Awesome Al & Peggy! My 14 year old loves Polar Bears! I am gong to show him this! Have a fantastic weekend!
Al & Peggy, excellent, geat post must have been a bear to get all those photos's, sorry couldn't help it...
Al and Peggy that is one big animal. They must be a beautiful sight to see in person.
Yes Allen you need to go! We hadn't been in years and we enjoyed it!
See if you can show him the size of that teddy bear's paws Wanda, they were amazing!
LOL Gerry!!! The others guys in the family wear semi hibernating but this guy was fussying about!
Isn't he huge George? When he walked around he sort of lumbered more than walked and the paws, they are huge!! Would not want to be slapped by them!! Congrats on the U.S. hockey win over Finland!!! Well guess they are in for Sunday! Whoo Hoo!
Al & Peggy - I think polor bears are one of the most beautiful creatures. Great information about them too!
P.S. I had no clue the Toronto Zoo was one of the largest zoo's in the world. 5,000 is A LOT of animals, it must be a great Zoo to spend the day at.
Al & Peggy, What wonderful photos you got! I love seeing them and reading some things I never knew about polar bears and other animals. They certainly are beautiful!
To be honest Michelle, we didn't know it was one of the largest either, before this research we would have guessed the San Diego was but not Toronto's. See what you learn doing these things?
They truly are beautiful Carole, just so mesmerizing to watch as well.
I really enjoyed the polar bears at the Central Park Zoo! Thanks for brining back some fond memories!
Al and Peggy - I wonder if the zoo has been making snow for our polar bears this year since we didn't have much of a winter, except for the big mid-December 2009 storm and some in the past few days.
Also, regarding your comment about my Scarborough Transit post on another post, you can take the TTC's 85 Sheppard East bus route which starts at the Sheppard subway station. You will need to see this page http://www3.ttc.ca/Routes/85/Eastbound.jsp for details regarding the specific bus to take since not all buses on the route go to the zoo.
Alternatively, you can take the 86 Scarborough route which departs from Kennedy subway station in Scarborough. See http://www3.ttc.ca/Routes/86/Eastbound.jsp for details as not all buses go to the zoo.
Oh, don't forget that Kennedy Road in Scarborough is NOT the same as Kennedy Road in Brampton. Same name, different road. :)
They look so peaceful and harmless while lumbering along but are so ferocious. Especially protective of their cubs. Thanks for sharing
Polar Bears are one of the main attractions at the Toronto Zoo, they are also one of the species that are being affected by global warning.
The San Diego Zoo is preparing a new venue with the Polar Bears opening on March 26, 2010. Head over to the San Diego Zoo and watch a short video on the Polar Bear, click here.
How curious that our polar bears disappeared and then you have a post on polar bears. Hmmmm.
Sounds like the big old polar bears are going to be heading back your way again soon Jim, take care of them okay?
That bear looks dirty. I think he needs a bath. You'd think all their swimming would keep them cleaner =P