POLAR BEAR

People are often surprised to discover that polar bears are classified as marine mammals, thanks to their spending most of their lives on the Arctic Ocean’s sea ice. As such, they’re naturally excellent swimmers, with paws measuring up to 30cm across, useful too for padding around on ice and snow. They can cover vast ranges of more than 600,000 sq km in countries including Canada, Norway, Greenland and Russia.

Scientists estimate the global polar bear population is around 23,315 bears. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the animal as ‘Vulnerable’, with an estimated decline of 40% in some populations, such as the one from the Southern Beaufort Sea at North America’s north-western tip.

The greatest threat to polar bears’ survival is the climate change-caused loss of sea ice, which they rely on to hunt, travel, breed and raise their young. Polar bears are also hunted for their fur, which is often sold to markets in Asia. Industrial activity, including oil drilling, also causes disturbances to dens, reducing cubs’ chances of survival. “I’m so excited polar bears are part of

The New Big 5.They’re keenly intelligent and endlessly fascinating to photograph and watch – mothers snuggle with cubs, big males play-wrestle in the snow, and curious youngsters play with kelp along the shore. No two viewings are the same.

“I’m also drawn to polar bears because they are such a powerful symbol of sea ice loss from global climate warming and a poignant messenger on the urgent need to act. If we do not act swiftly, not only do we face a future without polar bears but climate impacts will threaten our most basic needs for survival such as clean air, clean water and food availability. What affects polar bears, affects us all.”

Did You Know?

Polar bears’ fur isn’t actually white. Each shaft of hair is pigment-free and transparent, with a hollow core that scatters and reflects visible light, in much the same way that ice and snow do, which makes their hair appear white to the human eye.

Best Place To See…

Churchill, Manitoba, in Canada is renowned as the ‘polar bear capital of the world’ as it’s in middle of the migratory route of thewestern Hudson Bay polar bear sub-population. wexas Travel’s week-long tailor-made Polar

Bears of Churchill trip includes three nights at the Tundra Inn in Churchill, where unique tundra buggies get guests close to the Arctic wanderers; from £4,775pp; wexas.com

Spitsbergen, in Norway’s Svalbard region, is one of the world’s most-likely destinations to observe the world’s largest carnivores in their natural habitat, as well as other Arctic wildlife, from whales to reindeer. Intrepid Travel’s 14-day Spitsbergen in Depth costs from £9,400pp; intrepidtravel.com

For something even more remote, head to Wrangel Island, off the far-eastern coast of Russia, the world’s ‘maternity ward for polar bears’. Heritage Expeditions’ 15-day Across the top of theworld: wrangel Island expedition cruise also has the potential to uncover Pacific walruses and grey whales. From Us$9,350pp (£6,879); heritage-expeditions.com