- Polar bears help us gain an understanding of what is happening throughout the Arctic, as a polar bear at risk may signal something is wrong elsewhere in the arctic marine ecosystem.
- Large carnivores - those that are at the apex or top of the food chain - are particularly sensitive indicators of the health of an ecosystem... in this case, the Arctic.
Polar bears
Majestic creature of the far north, the polar bear is the world's largest terrestrial carnivore.
Its Latin name, Ursus maritimus, means 'sea bear', an apt name for this amazing species which spends much of its life in, around, or on the water - predominantly on the sea ice.
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scientific name
Ursus maritimus
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weight
352 - 680 kg
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length
2 - 3 m
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population
20-25,000 polar bears worldwide
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status
vulnerable
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© WWF / Geoff York
A polar bear (Ursus maritimus) and her cubs
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© iStockPhoto / Derek Dammann
Close up of polar bear's claws (possibly taken in a zoo)
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© Jon Aars / Norwegian Polar Institute / WWF-Canon
A close up of a Polar bear's dark skin and fair hair. Svalbard, ...
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© iStockPhoto / Karel Delvoye
Polar bear with seal carcass.
Polar bear news
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New WWF web tool maps Arctic nature and activities
As Arctic Council Ministers prepare to meet to outline priorities for the Council’s next two years, WWF has released a mapping tool to help inform those priorities.
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Increasing bear/human conflict needs government intervention, say experts
Hungry, climate-stressed polar bears are increasingly coming into conflict with people in some regions -- and nations will need to work together to fund and implement ways to keep both bears and ...
Why is the polar bear so important?
Polar bears and sea ice
Polar bears are excellent swimmers, but their preferred habitat is on top of the ice that covers the arctic seas much of the year. That is where they mate, hunt and rear their young.
By 2040, the summer sea ice could be reduced to a small fringe on the northern coasts of Canada and Greenland. This is the Last Ice Area.
Learn more about the Last Ice Area
By 2040, the summer sea ice could be reduced to a small fringe on the northern coasts of Canada and Greenland. This is the Last Ice Area.
Learn more about the Last Ice Area
What WWF is doing for polar bears
WWF is working around the Arctic to secure a future for polar bears.
Polar bears, the charismatic icon of the Arctic environment, have long been a focus in WWF’s on-the-ground research and conservation projects in the Arctic, going back to 1972 – and climate change is a primary focus of our global conservation efforts.
We get results!
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New research to inform good management of key polar bear populations
New financial contributions from WWF in support of polar bear research are improving the knowledge of key polar bear populations.
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Inuit community and WWF successfully curb polar bear conflict
A successful program to stop conflict between polar bears and people in the Hudson Bay community of Arviat in Canada has resulted in no bears being ...
