Polar Bear! Amazing Trivia Facts Quiz

Polar bears' main source of food is seals. Polar bears are known to be skilled hunters and rely heavily on seals for their survival. They primarily hunt seals by waiting near breathing holes in the ice and ambush them when they come up for air. Seals provide polar bears with the necessary fat and nutrients to sustain their energy in the harsh Arctic environment.

Polar bears like to keep themselves clean - probably because it helps the insulating properties of their fur. After feeding they'll usually wash by taking a swim or rolling in the snow. They also roll in the snow to cool off.

The big threat to polar bears now is climate change. Global warming means sea ice is melting earlier and forming later each year, leaving polar bears less time to hunt. A recent study (published in Nature, Feb 2011) shows polar bears litters are also decreasing in size because of sea ice decline. Many scientists believe polar bears could be gone from most of their current range within 100 years.

Polar bears have black skin. While their fur appears white, it is actually transparent and reflects light, giving them their iconic white appearance. Underneath their fur, their skin is black, which helps to absorb and retain heat from the sun. This black skin also helps to camouflage them in their natural habitat by absorbing sunlight and blending in with the dark ocean water when viewed from below.

Polar bears have black skins and colourless hair - but those thick, hollow hairs reflect light to give its white-looking coat. Great camouflage in the snow, as well as being very effective insulation.

Polar bears have an amazing sense of smell - they can detect seals their main source of food, from almost 1000 metres away.