Francesca Capozzi Extraordinary polar bears! Arctic predators are expert swimmers and demonstrate this by making long journeys for days on end
The polar bear, also called Ursus maritimus, is the largest bear in the world and, at the same time, a very powerful symbol of strength and resilience. Its majestic white fur is complemented by astonishing abilities that very few people know about. Among them is extraordinary talent for swimming.
Most of us picture polar bears on blocks of ice or in the hunt. There’s more to their story, however. These predators are also ranked among swimming wonders, able to make great crossings of water in one non-stop go.
Not long ago, a female polar bear gave evidence to this incredible ability to swim. She swam nine days continuously in the Beaufort Sea, which is a part of the Arctic Ocean. More than one week without stop-that is really impressive.
Polar bears swim across to reach new patches of ice wherever it may be, and they are able to swim at a speed of as much as 6.2 miles per hour. How, however, do they manage to swim for so long?
The answer lies with their body
The reason lies concealed in their strange body structure, which, in fact, is not as hidden after all. Polar bears have fantastically muscular limbs, which serve as great paddles-the forelimbs propel them forward while the hind limbs are used mainly for steering.
The magic coat of the polar bear
First, let’s take a closer look at the polar bear’s coat. Their fur is water-repellent, helping insulate their bodies from the frigid Arctic waters. Even the color of their fur is one brilliant design by nature-what seems to be a creamy hue is actually translucent fur that allows sunlight to filter in and warm the bear’s skin.
Apart from being excellent swimmers, they can also plunge/dive for up to two minutes. Not a record as they have to hold their breath for quite some time, but again, quite a skill.
Long sea journeys are a real test of endurance as they require much energy. Even the cubs of polar bears can swim from when they are young, though they usually do not dive into the water before they reach the age of four months. Initially, they are supervised in shallow waters by adults.
Why do polar bears swim?
Swimming is performed instinctively and serves a number of particular needs: hunting, migration, finding a new habitat, and evading threats. This species is studied by scientists as one of the representatives of the Arctic ecosystem, which we are inevitably destroying.
Sources WWF – Ocean Action Hub
