Species of the Day – Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

Polar bear is the world’s largest land carnivore found mainly around the icy wilderness of Arctic circle. Adult males weigh 350–680 kg (770–1500 lbs) and measure 2.4–3 m (7.9–9.8 ft) in length. Polar bears primarily hunt seals and occasionally beluga whales for survival but can forage for baleen whale carcasses.
Polar bear are classified as a vulnerable species, because there habitat (pack ice) and prey (seal) are being lost due to Climate change at a staggering rate where as the scientist from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have predicted that Arctic will be ice-free within the last 100 years but latest scientific research has concluded that true extent of loss of Arctic ice will happen faster then previously predicted. Pollution and sport hunting also endangers polar bears in the wild.
Global population of polar bears is 20,000 to 25,000, and is declining, the international community must act now to solve the climate crisis and concerted regional effort must be shown to save one of the world’s iconic predators that has became the symbol of Arctic wilderness and its incredible biodiversity.