The polar bear, or the sea bear (Ursus maritimus) is a member of the bear family, Ursidae; the mammalian order Carnivora; the genus Ursus. The polar bear is the largest species of this genus

The polar bear is the largest land carnivore and the only species of land mammals which has completely abandoned its habitat on land and moved to drifting ice floes in the Arctic Ocean

The polar bear can weigh as much as 800 kilogrammes. The average male polar bear weighs 400 to 450 kilogrammes and the average female polar bear weighs 350 to 380 kilogrammes

Polar bears are skilful hunters and are known for their good eyesight, sharp sense of smell and keen hearing. They mainly feed on two large species of Arctic seals: ringed seals and bearded seals (sea hares)

Polar bears are typically solitary animals and do not form social groups, although hierarchy may be established when they are forced to congregate. They are generally peaceful when they are together

Female polar bears tend to congregate in specific places, almost like maternity hospitals, where they dig out dens in the snow

Cubs start leaving their dens when they are about two months old

Polar bears are typically solitary animals and do not form social groups, although hierarchy may be established when they are forced to congregate

Adult male polar bears can pose a threat to cubs

The polar bear normally ranges over dense pack ice, swims well and migrates seasonally. If there are favourable ice conditions, polar bears can reach the North Pole during such migrations

Polar bear experts with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimate that about 20,000 to 25,000 animals live in the Arctic today, but the animals’ numbers continue to decline

The ongoing decrease in the ice cover in the Arctic means the loss of the most suitable habitat for polar bears

Due to the specifics of drifting ice and the higher rate of retreating ice in the Russian part of the Arctic, polar bears there are more exposed to stress, various risks and the threat of a dramatic reduction in their numbers

The polar bear was placed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and the Russian Federation’s Red List of Threatened Species. In Russia, polar bear hunting is completely prohibited