The feeding of the polar bear has become a topic of interest for many people because it has had to change some habits and be a warrior in its own habitat in order to survive, so here we will talk about what polar bears eat, their methods to get it and its current situation, do not miss it!
Who are the polar bears?
Before starting to talk about the feeding of polar bears, it is important to talk a little about them in general for people who do not know much about them or at least some basic information that does not hurt to take them into account.
Polar bears are the largest carnivorous mammals on earth and can reach a weight of 350 kg and measure up to 2,6 meters in height, in the case of females they only weigh half and are shorter compared to the male.
Their most concentrated populations are found in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia. Its habitat is made up of ice and snow, the polar bear is able to resist very low temperatures due to its fur and its legs are wide and strong enough to be able to jump and move in any space that deserves it.
Its face and body are more elongated and defined compared to the rest of the other bears, its fur is translucent, but it is usually confused with white, this is produced by the light that reflects on its fur, resulting in a white appearance in his body, his ears next to his tail are very small, he has huge legs that not only allow him to move but also help him swim when he needs it.
What do polar bears eat?
Since we have known the polar bear a little more in detail, we can now delve deeper into the real issue that we came to know, which is the feeding of this mammal that, as mentioned before, is the largest carnivore on earth that does not have a predator. natural, now we will touch point by point the most important thing about your diet.
What is the diet of the Polar Bear based on?
The polar bear is carnivorous and its diet is fundamentally based on meat due to the environment in which it is found, which is made up of ice and snow, in addition it could be said that it is also due to the nutritional level since the meat is full of proteins that It provides them with the strength and energy necessary to continue their search for food in their daily lives.
Its main prey, which could also be said to be its favorite, are the seals because they are large in number of individuals and size, weighing 300 kg. These seals are full of fat, which is essential for adult bears. Bears can get a lot of use out of this animal due to how big it is, being able to fill itself with strength for several days.
It is also common that the walruses that they usually catch when they are out of the water are available on their menu. Cetaceans such as belugas and apart from white dolphins have become feasible alternatives, although they do not have the same levels of fat and protein as seals, their meat will still be useful and will not be seen as a waste, sometimes becoming the few feasible options when no seals are in sight.
One of the greatest joys that polar bears can have is being able to feed on whale carcasses that they can find lying on the coast, this is supposed to be a great source of energy, fat and protein to be able to survive for several days and to be able to store strength to be able to move more smoothly.
Depending on the age and stage in which the polar bear is, it will be its priority when it comes to eating since adults will always look for the part of the fat and the skins of the prey, the young polar bears seek to eat only the meat of his prey. It should also be emphasized that these mammals do not drink water because of how salty it is, which is why they acquire it from their prey.
How do they get their food?
Polar bears are excellent hunters, they identify possible prey by smell, they can attack their prey from the ice in the water if it is on the surface near the bear, he will take advantage of the opportunity by hitting him on the head of his victim to later hook it in its claws and drag it to its location. Sometimes the bear waits very patiently, hidden, for one of its prey to come out for air, so the entire process could last more than 1 hour.
There is the option that its prey is resting on ice blocks or in the case of white dolphins that get stuck to them so it attacks them by surprise, sometimes it is not successful because some bodies slip on the ice. ice and this could be the case for seals.
It can also attack its prey if they are in the middle of the reproduction period since they are more distracted compared to other situations. The ages of the prey that most seek to hunt are the young or the oldest specimens of the groups, these two being the most vulnerable and easy for them to hunt.
How much food do Polar Bears need to eat per day?
Puppies usually consume 1 kg of food per day and adults can consume 30 kg of food per day. However, these animals having a good, profitable and abundant hunting day can relax and spend some without hunting and store energy.
Current status of polar bears
The polar bear has been a mammal that has drastically suffered the effects of climate change and global warming in its daily life and this has been reflected in its habitat that was previously only made up of ice and snow that is now They have melted over recent years, leaving large green and wild spaces that do not correspond to the environment in which it is found and that have affected the lives of various living beings, including the polar bear.
Many polar bears have shown signs of excessive malnutrition that have led them to death due to strong seasons in which food is scarce, even drastic measures are taken by some adult bears who resort to cannibalism, sacrificing the youngest in the group. to be able to feed.
This situation has left the polar bear in a vulnerable state that spends long periods without being able to feed, it loses a lot of energy to be able to move and look for food, energy that it does not have stored due to its poor nutrition, when the panorama looks so dark for these mammals they usually spend a few weeks alive because their energy reserves are depleted and they do not get another source with which they can continue.
Do not leave without first reading the following articles:
Classification of Animals according to their Feed