Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)Polar bear (eng.). The importance of bears in modern nature

One of the most famous and dangerous predators on Earth - a brown bear. He - main character legends and fairy tales of many peoples. The brown bear lives in large forest areas and hides deep in the forest for the winter. On Far East bears are small, Central Asia they are almost three times larger. The main preference in choosing a habitat is food; if there is a lot of food in a given territory, the bear will not go further than 500 hectares; if there is a shortage of food, the animal can become a real nomad.

Externally, the brown bear is a powerful animal with a large head, on which are located rather small eyes and ears. The gigantic force of bear blows is provided by the hump located in the withers area; it is a cluster of well-developed muscles. The bear has a tail about 20 cm long, but it is practically invisible among its thick fur. The coat color varies depending on the subspecies from light brown to black, the most common color being brown. The bear has four paws, each with five toes. Each finger ends in a sickle-shaped claw up to 10 cm long. Males grow up to 2.5 m in length and weigh 500-750 kg. The animal looks very clumsy, but in fact the bear is very dexterous and agile, can make high jumps, run fast, swim and climb trees. When it rears up its height reaches 3 m.

Most often, bears can be found in taiga-type forests. The habitat where this predator lives is almost the entire forest belt of Siberia, Russia and the Far East. These animals are also found in mixed, coniferous and deciduous forests Central Asia and the Caucasus.

The brown bear is an omnivore. At the beginning of summer, bears feed on roots, young shoots and plant bulbs. Later, acorns, mushrooms, nuts and berries become his food. In autumn, animals go out to fields with corn or oats. Bears in the Caucasus love to visit fruit groves, eating cherry plums, apples and pears. In Central Asia, they raid plantations of pistachios, apricots and cherry plums. In forests, bears destroy anthills, tear off the bark of rotten stumps in search of bark beetles and other beetles, they can eat chicks or eggs from a bird's nest, and catch small rodents and frogs. They are also very good at fishing; on occasion they can attack a wild boar, elk, cow or horse, and they do not disdain carrion.

In the fall, the bear gets fat, preparing for the period of hibernation, and accumulates in its body. nutrients. During this period, the animal makes a den in a rock crevice, in a recess under an inverted stump or windbreak; a dry place must be chosen for the den. Males hibernate separately from females. If there was not enough food in the summer, the bear wanders in search of food even in the winter. This bear is called a “connecting rod”; it is dangerous for herbivores and can sometimes even attack humans.

In January or February, mother bears give birth to cubs. Usually these are 2-3 bear cubs weighing 0.5 kg each. The babies are blind, naked, the bear keeps them warm against her belly, warming them with her breath. She feeds them milk; due to the substances accumulated during the winter, bear milk becomes thick. When spring comes, the mother takes the cubs out of the den and the grown cubs eat, under her supervision, berries, worms, insects and everything else they can find in the forest. Males stay aloof and do not take part in raising the young. Grown-up babies cause a lot of trouble for the female; they become very active, fight each other, climb trees, and swim.

The brown bear has very few enemies in nature, since it is a very strong opponent. Sometimes they are attacked by wolves; in the Far East, tigers are their enemies.

Out of fear of the bear, people have been hunting it for centuries; history even tells of cases where rewards were announced for a killed bear. The animal has tasty meat, its fat is rich in vitamins, and the skin, although cheaply valued, is very warm. But the bear itself does not attack humans, and does not even come close to the places where people live (with the exception of the above-mentioned connecting rods).

We've all encountered something like this at least once in our lives. forest predator like a bear. Whether at the zoo or the circus, we were thrilled to watch these wild animals perform funny tricks. The children's animated series “Masha and the Bear” is mega-popular these days. In it, the bear is shown as a very smart and well-mannered animal that eats everything.

What do bears actually eat? Where do they live, how do they live? Why do they hibernate? Then read our article and learn in more detail the diet of a predator and many new things from the life of forest animals.

Where do bears live?

The brown bear lives in almost all corners of the earth:

In the Ukrainian Carpathians; in Central and Western Europe You can also find traces of his residence; Asia, China, Japan are the native home of this predator.
North America calls the brown bear grizzly, and it is under this name that he lives there.
In Russia, brown bears can be found in almost every forest of our vast country.
The Finns greatly respect these mammals; in their homeland, the bear is the national animal.

Brown bears merged into one general form all over the planet. They can only differ in racial characteristics depending on their geographical distribution and are divided into several subspecies.

Diet of the brown predator and its lifestyle

We all know well from childhood that bears love honey and raspberries and cannot imagine their life without these delicacies. However, is this really so?

The diet of the brown predator is very unique. He can eat “just grass” for a whole month. It is also common for him to eat insect larvae. Likes to tear apart anthills in search of food.

The favorite foods for this mammal are berries, hazelnuts, and acorns. However, you probably have a question: “Why is the brown bear called a predator if it is so partial to plant foods?” Yes because beast of prey eats animal corpses along with all sorts of herbs and berries, not disdaining even an overly foul-smelling carcass. If the right opportunity arises, the bear will certainly strangle the wild boar and other forest animals.

So desirable and beloved for him is, of course, honey. In search of this delicacy, the bear, not sparing himself , prowls the forest hives, putting your life in danger, since this delicacy is guarded by thousands of angry bees. They are not going to share their sweet dessert with brown forest animal. Therefore, the clubfoot will have to recover for a long time after such adventures in his den, because his entire shaggy body is wounded by insect bites and will languish in pain for many days.

What does a brown bear eat when the berries and nuts disappear and the cold season sets in? Predators are getting creative. For example, mammals northern latitudes Russians eat fish or collect carrion in the form of marine and river inhabitants. Caucasian forest dwellers are the luckiest, since in this part of our country berries and nuts are not available all year round.

It's hard for the brown predator in Siberia. Severe frosts contribute to the devastation of forest thickets, however, a clubfoot will occasionally kill a deer or a wild boar, if it is within its power. Hunting is the only way to survive for these mammals that live in northern latitudes.

Interesting fact! A bear, preparing for hibernation, eats up to 50 kg of meat per day!

Usually brown predators settle in their den on long years, going several kilometers away from it while hunting and searching for food. They are very attached to their abode and protect it from outside interference. However, when the harvest begins to fail and the predator has nothing to eat, then willy-nilly he will have to wander so as not to die of hunger. Brown bears can overcome more than one hundred kilometers in search of new, more comfortable housing.

When cold weather sets in, it is better not to meet this animal on your way. Predators become angry, aggressive and can easily tear a person to pieces. Not all bears hibernate. Many of them become cranks - these are bears that have not gained enough fat to fall into a long, quiet sleep, so they wander around the forest, posing a huge danger to people. Sometimes such animals can wander into personal plots and bully livestock.

The connecting rods can also go out onto the roads and throw themselves towards passing cars. Predators don’t know what to do, so they do such things out of desperation. They foresee their imminent death.

Brown bears who survived harsh winter months in hibernation, wake up in the spring and cannot recover from a long sleep for a long time. This condition is similar to the period of rehabilitation and recovery of a person after an illness. Soon the strength returns to the predators and they begin to frolic uncontrollably, enjoying the spring sun. The hunt begins with renewed zeal.

And in May, when juicy young grass begins to sprout, brown bears feel great without meat, greedily eating plant foods.

At a time when food supplies are only available in limited quantities, in bear families, division begins between the most strong predators. The cubs are always provided with tasty and healthy food. Their mother bear takes care of this.

When bears can eat to their heart's content and not deny themselves anything, they look like tame cute little animals, only much larger in size. These mammals love to play and fool around on the green grass. However, this behavior is typical for young individuals and their offspring. Adult representatives remain calm and unhurried.

Fights between brown bears are very common, especially when mating season begins. They fight for life and death, so such fights very often end in the death of one of the predators.

Papa bears do not have tender feelings for their offspring and do not care for their cubs. They are also cold and completely unattached to their spouses. Only the keeper of the hearth will raise her cubs and get them food so that they grow into healthy and strong individuals like their father.

Wildlife is not only beauty, but also numerous dangers that await inexperienced people. Since childhood, we have become accustomed to idealizing animals, including bears, having become accustomed to cartoon characters. However, in real life They are far from harmless and not as cute as we are used to seeing them on screens in popular science films. The article will focus on the man-eating bear - a dangerous animal, encounters with which any experienced hunter tries to avoid. But, unfortunately, this does not always work out.

Dangerous animals

Bears in wildlife- these are not at all the cute fluffies we imagine them to be. And experienced hunters know this for sure. Bears are rightfully considered very large and incredibly formidable predators on the planet. They are much larger in size than tigers and lions. It is their incredible strength that has led to the veneration of animals in many cultures. Let us remember that on flags and coats of arms you can often see the figure of a bear. People have long feared and respected the animal. Not everyone manages to avoid death when meeting such a predator.

Living far from wild nature, it is difficult to imagine the danger that comes from a man-eating bear. Until now, people living in forest villages or mountains all over the world suffer from powerful predators, because a hungry animal is able to penetrate even into human homes in search of prey.

Which bears are dangerous?

A bear is a desirable prey for any hunter. However, very often people themselves become its prey. Even a harmless mushroom and berry picker can encounter a predator in the forest. Such encounters are dangerous, because if a man-eating bear gets in the way, it is simply impossible for an unarmed person to escape from its strong paws.

Mother bears with cubs pose a serious danger. During the period of motherhood, they are incredibly vigilant, so they are able to attack even those people who do not have any bad intentions.

Wounded animals are also dangerous - they themselves attack the hunters who wounded them.

The most dangerous cannibal is the connecting rod bear. Such an animal is a killing machine that destroys everything in its path for the sake of prey.

What do they eat?

A bear's diet is directly related to its habitat. Predators live in forests, sometimes in the tundra, as well as in high mountain areas. As a rule, each individual stays alone. Males occupy a territory of 70 to 400 square kilometers. Animals mark the boundaries of their territory with odorous marks on tree bark. An interesting fact is that bears eat a wide variety of foods. Their diet includes: acorns, berries, roots, nuts, herbs, tubers, insects, lizards, worms, rodents, frogs.

Large males can also attack young ungulates. Brown bears, for example, are very fond of honey and fish, which they catch during spawning. But in search of food, bear attacks on livestock occur.

Animal sizes

Bears are large animals. On average, the weight of one animal ranges from 80-120 kilograms. It is clear that such a huge creature needs to eat well to maintain its strength. IN summer period animal accumulates subcutaneous fat, the weight of which can reach up to 180 kilograms. At favorable conditions by typing required weight, the bear hibernates in the fall. He needs fat reserves in order to safely overwinter in the den. However, in hungry years, the animal may not have time to accumulate subcutaneous fat. This is where the problems begin. Such a bear cannot hibernate or does, but soon wakes up and begins to wander in search of prey. Popularly, such animals are called connecting rods.

Dangerous predators

Why is a connecting rod bear dangerous? Such individuals become incredibly dangerous because they stop at nothing in search of food. They can ruin poultry houses and kill domestic animals. And this is far from the worst harm from them. If a bear wakes up in winter, it must eat, and here it does not have to choose. He will not disdain any food. At such times the animal becomes very aggressive. Such a man-eating bear may well attack a person. And it’s difficult for unarmed people to defend themselves against it.

What is the danger to humans?

At all times, meeting a clubfoot in the forest is dangerous. It is unlikely that a person will be able to escape from a predator, since the animal reaches speeds of up to 55 kilometers per hour. In addition, bears swim well and even at a young age climb trees well. As we can see, there is little chance of salvation when meeting an aggressive predator.

If we talk about brown bears, they are serious predators. It’s not for nothing that they received the nickname masters of the forest. With one blow of its powerful paw, the animal knocks a person down and even breaks bones. When meeting a bear in the forest, you should not frighten it or threaten it with sticks. But a wounded animal itself shows aggression, and it is simply impossible to escape from it.

Often, hunters themselves are eager to get such a predator as prey. But dealing with the agile creature is not so easy. History knows many cases when even the most experienced hunters died in the claws of animals. A wounded bear overtakes the offender in a split second and tears him into pieces. Strong paws with huge claws allow predators to easily cope with humans. A bear attack for a person very rarely has a successful outcome.

How to avoid encounters with a predator

Experienced hunters and specialists give a number of recommendations on how to behave correctly when meeting a predator. However, it is worth understanding that there is no universal advice, especially when it comes to a representative of wildlife whose behavior is difficult to predict. As we mentioned earlier, the most dangerous are females with cubs and connecting rods, they are the ones who are capable of attacking a person.

Experienced hunters recommend never going into the forest alone; it is better to do it with a group. At the same time, it is worth shouting to each other, singing songs and making noise so that the predator hears you and does not dare to approach. But this recommendation does not work for a large man-eating bear.

Under no circumstances should landfills be created near villages, towns, camps, tent cities and other human habitats. food waste, since this helps attract bears to human habitation. Moreover, it is worth understanding that even burial does not save the situation. food waste at a decent depth. Firstly, bears’ sense of smell is very developed, and secondly, digging up the ground with powerful claws is not difficult for them. In those regions where predators live, it is recommended to take waste away from human habitation and burn it. And you shouldn’t visit such places alone.

If you are going into the forest, it is worth taking a good dog with you. Having a dog near you can protect you to some extent. Just don’t take with you decorative species that the bear considers as prey. But huskies and shepherds are the best companions in this case.

In the wild, you should never get close to carrion or remains of animals, places where dead fish accumulate and other natural habitats of bears. A bear disturbed near its prey is incredibly aggressive and can attack.

Residents of the tundra and taiga say that bear trails should never be used. They differ from others in that they consist of a chain of parallel pits, which are located at a distance of 20 centimeters from each other. In addition, you should never move along rivers or fish spawning grounds at night or at dawn. In such places you can stumble upon a bear.

Behavioral characteristics of predators

The defensive behavior of an animal is usually associated with violation of the boundaries of its territory. A typical example is a female with babies.

However, bears may also approach you out of interest. Simple curiosity drives animals to explore the unknown. Sometimes he can only be attracted to your food.

If bears live near people’s homes, then they are not afraid to come closer, but do not delude yourself that they will not become tame animals. Any approach to a wild animal is dangerous. The fact is that a predator may be interested in a person as a potential meal. Stories about man-eating bears are full of examples of how animals first study the chosen victim with curiosity, checking whether it can fight back, and then attack.

Behavior during attack

Of course, cases of bear attacks are not so frequent, but they still happen. Typically encounter predators in the forest simple people, completely unprepared for the meeting and completely unarmed. In such cases, you should not shout at the animal or wave your arms, threatening it. But you shouldn’t pretend to be dead either, since you don’t know the purpose for which the bear approached you. If he views you as a victim, then you should act confidently. There is no need to run, since the speed of the predator is much higher; you will not have time to cover even a few meters before it will catch up with you. Sometimes passive behavior works and the bear leaves. But this only applies to random encounters.

As for connecting rod bears, they are obsessed with the desire to eat, so they look for prey themselves. And sometimes they even persistently visit villages in the taiga and tundra in search of food. Scary stories about man-eating bears passed down from mouth to mouth may have been embellished by local residents, but there is no doubt that the predators are dangerous.

Grizzly

The grizzly bear is on the list of the most dangerous predators on our planet. In fact, this is a variety of brown individuals familiar to us. The peculiarity of grizzlies is that they are incredibly large. Outwardly, such bears are very similar to our bears. But at the same time they weigh up to 500 kilograms and reach three meters in length. In addition, predators have a very aggressive and ferocious character. Approaching them is tantamount to death. Man-eating grizzly bears are a fairly common occurrence in human history. Despite the enormous size and heavy weight, they are very agile when young. Predators love fish very much. They are not afraid of the cold flows of rivers and streams; they overcome them with ease.

Grizzlies live in North America and in Kamchatka. They are listed in the Red Book and currently live mainly in nature reserves. But still horror stories with their participation are still happening. The fact is that, according to zoologists, these animals are vegetarians. True, sometimes small game and even larger animals are also consumed. People are not included in their diet at all, however, some individuals can easily attack a person, confusing him with some other animal. A grizzly bear, without much hesitation, will attack if it decides that it is in danger. Wounded animals attack more often, but here their aggression can be justified by the desire to desperately defend themselves. Females and males also behave aggressively when their cubs are in danger. In 1987, in a Canadian reserve, a grizzly bear killed two women who met a bear cub in the forest and decided to play with it.

The biggest grizzly

In 2007, the largest grizzly bear in history was recorded in Alaska. His weight was 726 kilograms and his height was 4.3 meters. Such a giant, among other things, was a malicious cannibal. He was killed by one of the hunters who was lucky enough to survive an encounter with such a giant. Currently, hunting for man-eating bears is not regular, but rather a necessary measure of protection.

Grizzly bear lifestyle

Grizzlies are very similar in behavior and lifestyle to our brown bears. They live in the forests of Canada, Colombia, and Yukon. Currently there are not many of them left. It is growing gradually. In the last century, there was a mass extermination of grizzly bears, since cases of their attacks on people, even in houses, were too frequent. In addition, predators destroyed livestock and poultry. All this led to their mass shooting. There was a time when a large reward was offered for the head of every grizzly killed. Therefore, there were more and more bear hunters, and fewer and fewer bears themselves.

On the one hand, meat is not included in the diet of grizzlies, but on the other hand, their attacks on people were a frequent occurrence. According to experts, this type bears have a bad time developed vision and sense organs. It is for this reason that they mistakenly attack people, confusing them with other prey. However, this statement is highly controversial. But people should definitely beware of these predators. Particularly dangerous, as already mentioned, are wounded animals, which in desperation rush to defend themselves and behave very aggressively, without understanding who wounded them, if several hunters are present. The grizzly bear's reaction is simply lightning fast. No wonder they are considered one of the most ferocious animals in the world.

Instead of an afterword

Surely every reader has been to the zoo. Bears in such establishments are kept in appropriate conditions, taking all precautions. And it’s not for nothing that there are signs everywhere warning of danger. Predators are not a toy. We must remember that the prototypes of cute cartoon characters in real life are very dangerous, like any wild creature. Therefore, it is better to observe them from afar, observing all safety rules.

Common brown bear - carnivorous mammal bear family. This large predator considered one of the most dangerous. There are about 20 subspecies, which differ in habitat and appearance.

Appearance

All subspecies of brown bear have a well-developed, powerful body, a fairly large head with small eyes and rounded ears, and high withers. The tail is short (from 6.5 to 21 cm). Strong paws with powerful non-retractable claws up to 10 cm long, five-toed feet, quite wide. Appearance subspecies varies significantly. Males are approximately one and a half times larger than females.

Dimensions

The individuals inhabiting Europe are the smallest, reaching two meters in length and weighing 200 kg. Brown bears living in middle lane Russia, larger size and weigh about 300 kg. The largest are grizzlies and Far Eastern bears, their length reaches three meters and their weight reaches 500 kg or more.

Color

What a bear looks like and what color its skin is depends on its habitat. There are bears from light fawn to black and blue. Brown fur color is considered standard.

Grizzlies native to the Rocky Mountains have white fur on their backs at the tips, creating a grayish tint. Brown bears living in the Himalayas have a completely grayish color, while those living in Syria have a light, brownish-red skin.

Brown bears shed once a year, from spring to autumn. Spring molt is often separated from autumn molt. Spring molting occurs most intensely during the rut and lasts quite a long time. The autumn period proceeds almost unnoticed and ends by the time the bears’ winter hibernation begins.

Lifespan

The lifespan of a bear directly depends on the conditions in which it lives. How many years do bears live? Average duration life in the wild under favorable conditions is 20-30 years.

How many years does a brown bear live in captivity? With good care, brown bears reach the age of 45-50 years.

Subspecies

Population differences in the brown bear are very large, and they were previously divided into many separate species. Today, all browns have been combined into one species, with several subspecies. Let's look at the most common ones.

European (Eurasian) brown

A large, powerful animal with a strongly pronounced hump.

Main characteristics:

body length - 150-250 cm;
weight - 150-300 kg;
height at withers - 90-110 cm.

The fur is yellowish-gray to dark brown, quite long and thick.

Caucasian brown

There are two forms of this subspecies - large and small.

Greater Caucasian:

body length - 185-215 cm;
weight - 120-240 kg.

Lesser Caucasian:

body length - 130-140 cm;
weight - no more than 65 kg.

This subspecies combines external signs Syrian and European bears. Short, coarse coat ranging from light yellowish to brownish-gray. There is a dark spot in the withers area.

Siberian brown

One of the largest subspecies.

Its dimensions:

body length - 200-250 cm;
weight - 300-400 kg.

It has a large head, long and soft shiny coat from light brown to brown-brown. Some individuals have a yellowish or black tint in color.

Ussuri brown

Also known as the Asian black grizzly or Amur.

length - up to 2 m;
weight - 300-400 kg.

It stands out for its developed skull with an elongated nose and very dark, almost black skin. The long hair on the round ears will also help distinguish it from other subspecies.

Far Eastern (Kamchatka) brown

The largest subspecies found in Russia.

Its dimensions:

length - up to 2.5 m;
weight - 350-450 kg. Some males reach 500 kg or more.

This subspecies has a massive head with a rather short nose and a wide front part raised above it, and small rounded ears. Dense, long and soft wool from fawn to blackish-brown. The claws are dark up to 10 cm.

Habitats

The brown bear inhabits almost all forest zone from western Russia and the forests of the Caucasus to Pacific Ocean. It can also be found in Japan on the island of Hokkaido, in some Asian countries, in Europe, Canada and in the northwestern states of America.

For living, he chooses forested areas, with windbreaks and bushes, prefers coniferous forests. It can wander into the tundra or settle in high mountain forests, with an undergrowth of edible plants.

The habitat is not tied to a specific place; often the bear’s feeding areas and home are located far from each other, and the bear has to make long journeys during the day.

Habits and lifestyle

The brown bear is a loner. Males live separately, and females raise cubs. Each adult has its own territory, the size of which can reach several hundred square kilometers. Males "own" much larger territory than females. The boundaries of the territory are marked by scratches on the trees and the scent of the owner.

The habits of bears are typical of a predator. During the day, as a rule, animals rest, choosing secluded areas among grass or bushes. They go out in search of food in the morning or evening. Despite poor eyesight, bears are excellent at navigating using their sense of smell and hearing.

Despite its impressive dimensions and apparent clumsiness, it is a fairly agile and fast animal, capable of climbing trees, swimming and running at speeds of up to 60 km/h.

Nutrition

The diet of a brown bear is very diverse, because bears eat almost everything. Its main diet consists of plant foods: berries, nuts, acorns, stems, tubers and roots of plants. If possible, he will not miss the opportunity to wander into the fields to feast on oats and corn. It also eats various insects, frogs, lizards and rodents.

Adults hunt young moose, fallow deer, deer, roe deer and wild boar. A large predator is capable of breaking the backbone of its prey with one blow of its paw, then hides the carcass, covering it with brushwood, and guards it until it is completely eaten. For the Far Eastern brown, the main diet in the summer-autumn period is salmon going to spawn.

When the food supply is insufficient, bears often destroy apiaries and attack livestock.

These animals have amazing memory. Having found mushrooms or berries that bears eat in the forest, they remember the places and then easily find their way to them. The lifespan of a brown bear in the wild largely depends on adequate nutrition.

Reproduction

How do bears reproduce? Mating season starts in May and lasts a couple of months. The rut is active, accompanied by fights between males and roaring. After 6-8 months, cubs are born. Bear cubs are born in the middle of winter, when the bear is hibernating.

Cubs are born weighing only 400-500 grams, blind, with sparse hair. As a rule, there are 2-4 cubs in a litter. For more than a year after birth, they feed on their mother’s milk, but immediately after leaving the den, the mother begins to accustom them to various foods.

The cubs and their mother live for three to four years, then they separate and begin to live independently. Females reach sexual maturity in the third or fourth year, males develop 1-2 years longer.

Hibernation

From mid-summer and throughout autumn, bears actively prepare for hibernation, feeding heavily and accumulating fat. The hibernation of a bear differs from the hibernation of other mammals; it is not suspended animation, but simply a sound sleep, during which neither the breathing nor the pulse of the animal changes practically. A bear in hibernation does not fall into complete stupor.

Preparation

Shelters for the winter are arranged in remote and dry places, under tree roots or under windbreaks. The clubfoot can dig a den on its own, or it can occupy a crevice in the mountains or a small cave. Pregnant females build a spacious and deep den, insulating it from the inside with moss, leaves and spruce branches.

One-year-old cubs always spend the winter in their mother's den, often joined by two-year-old cubs. Adults lie in the den one at a time.

Duration of hibernation

How long does a bear sleep? It all depends on weather conditions and other factors, the brown one can hibernate for up to six months.

A bear's hibernation in winter and its duration depend on the weather, age, gender, state of health and the amount of fat gained during the summer-autumn period. So, for example, an old individual that has gained enough fat will go into hibernation long before the snow cover falls, and young individuals go to the den only in November or December. Pregnant females settle in for the winter first.

Bear rod

A shatun is an animal that has not had time to accumulate the required amount of fat, which is why it cannot hibernate and is forced to look for food for itself all winter.

Why is a connecting rod bear dangerous? In severe frosts and when there is an acute shortage of food, shatuns often approach populated areas in search of food. There are more than one known cases of a connecting rod attacking domestic animals and even humans.

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WWF and polar bears

Are the authorities hindering or helping WWF to protect polar bears?

The state protects the polar bear as a species included in the List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (International Red Book) and in the Red Book Russian Federation. The president's interest in the polar bear is improving the situation, as many people are becoming more attentive to the very task of preserving this species. Scientists studying polar bears receive additional funding, which means the opportunity to conduct new research, since in this way an important government task is being solved. But the main thing that the state can do for the bear is to create an effective system for monitoring the number of the species, combat poaching and the illegal trade in skins.

At the initiative of WWF, a Polar Bear Conservation Strategy was prepared, which was approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources. But the implementation of the Action Plan until 2020 in accordance with this Strategy requires money, so it is still poorly implemented in practice.

Has WWF already managed to do anything significant to save the polar bear?

Yes, it worked. For example, we have been running the Bear Patrol program for several years now, which is aimed at preventing conflicts between bears and humans. Due to the melting of the ice, the bear began to come ashore more often and approach human habitations in search of food. Encounters often end badly, sometimes for humans, but usually for bears, since people in those places usually go armed.

We accepted Active participation in the development of the “Strategy for the Conservation of Polar Bears in the Russian Federation.” This strategy was approved by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources in July 2010.

It describes specific mechanisms that help preserve bear populations. It is indicated what legislative amendments need to be made, how to improve the system of protected natural areas what to do Scientific research, how to work with the population of “bear” regions in order to achieve the goal. WWF is trying to ensure that the provisions of the strategy are implemented in practice and expects that this will bring real benefits to the polar bear in the near future.

WWF monitors poaching locally and, together with the organization TRAFFIC, monitors advertisements on the Internet for the sale of illegally obtained skins.

What is there not enough funding for?

Funding is needed for anti-poaching activities, in particular to prevent illegal hunting in the field. The level of poaching is assessed jointly with regional hunting organizations, which have the opportunity to directly communicate with local residents and receive fairly objective information from them.

WWF could, with additional funding, support local inspectorates that prevent illegal hunting and provide them with money to purchase equipment. The funds would also be useful for paying fees to volunteer employees from local public anti-poaching inspections.

In addition, we need to know how many polar bears live in the Russian Arctic. Only with this information can one develop protective measures and make informed management decisions in different regions. This means we need money to research bear populations.

Counting polar bears is an unusually expensive thing, for which in some cases there is not enough money even for specialists in richer countries. Western countries. To count one population in the Russian Arctic, a minimum of $10-15 million is required, and in total it is necessary to estimate the size of four populations. Sometimes, however, Norwegian researchers help us a little, covering some Russian territory when conducting your accounting.

Any living organism, especially one so distinctive and unique, has a certain value. Each species plays its role in the ecosystem, that is, it is important for its proper functioning. The loss of species is especially painful for the Arctic. In the tropics, for example, at every level of the ecosystem - at the level of plants producing organic matter, at the level of herbivorous animals, at the level of predators feeding on herbivores - there are a lot various organisms. In the Arctic, the range of species at each level is extremely limited.

For Arctic marine ecosystems polar bear- practically the only large predator. If it is excluded from the ecosystem, unpredictable Negative consequences. In the Far East, for example, after a decline in the tiger population, outbreaks of deer and wild boars began, which eat up large amounts of plants and provoke forest degradation.

In addition, the polar bear is a beautiful, noble animal; it has become a living symbol of the Arctic. To emphasize the cultural and symbolic value of the polar bear, WWF included it in the list of Flagship species - “flag”, especially recognizable animals. It will be very sad if we lose this species forever.

How can I personally help a polar bear?

To help a polar bear, you don’t have to leave your business and family and go to the Arctic. You can help him, for example, by saving electricity, water, handing over waste paper and taking care of natural resources. By saving electricity and water, we reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, which means we help stop climate change and the melting of ice in the Arctic. You can also save the polar bear by doing donation for its protection: to support the Bear Patrols, the creation of specially protected natural areas and peace zones in the Arctic. You can receive a cute felt bear as a gift (for a contribution of 2,500 rubles or more) or “adopt” a polar bear (for a contribution of 30,000 rubles). All funds raised go to WWF's Arctic program, within which we preserve this species.

If you live near the habitats of polar bears, it is worth knowing and following the rules of behavior when meeting an animal, both for your own safety and in order not to put the animal in a risky position.

State of the polar bear population

What impacts the polar bear population the most?

Like any population, it is primarily affected by the availability and accessibility of food. The main prey of polar bears is seals. Bears have adapted to hunting seals from the ice. Therefore, the key condition for ensuring that the normal way of life of bears is not disrupted is the presence of ice in the seas where seals live. Due to climate change, the area is large summer ice is catastrophically reduced, in summer huge spaces are formed open water. When afloat, the bear cannot catch anyone. It is not very beneficial for him to follow the ice closer to the pole - most seals live in coastal areas. The bear often remains on the shore, where it is extremely difficult for him to hunt. At this time, he either tries to catch walrus cubs, or eats carrion, or approaches human settlements to beg in garbage dumps.

The number of bears is also negatively affected by poaching, the scale of which is quite difficult to assess. In Chukotka, about several dozen bears are probably hunted illegally every year (maximum two to three hundred). Since the number of polar bears around the world ranges from 22-31 thousand, this factor for this population may be critical.

Finally, pollution of habitats by harmful pollutants also plays a role. organic compounds, heavy metals. Hazardous substances accumulate in the meat and fat of the bear. Although Russian studies recent years showed that the situation with pollutants and pathogenic microorganisms It’s not nearly as bad for a polar bear. Brown and Himalayan bears exposed to these threats to a greater extent. And Russian polar bear populations turned out to be even more “ecologically friendly” than Canadian ones.

Is it true that many bears are now drowning due to melting ice?

This is clearly not a factor that significantly reduces their numbers. The polar bear is an excellent swimmer, capable of spending many hours in a row in the water. Of course, bear cubs can drown during particularly long swims, but it is unrealistic to count how many of them drown. This doesn't happen often. In general, a bear can swim hundreds of kilometers in some cases, but such travel is not the norm for it.

How would it be possible to monitor a polar bear? Has monitoring been carried out before and how?

A complete census of the entire Russian Arctic has never been carried out. The most complete data was collected in the Soviet Union, but it is already outdated. In Russia, the number of bears is periodically counted, dens are counted, samples are taken to assess the physiological state of animals, but good system monitoring, that is, constant control throughout the entire range of the species, this does not work. We have prepared a similar monitoring program for the Russian Arctic, but there is no funding for its implementation (see the section WWF and polar bears, the question “What is there not enough funding for?”).

Local census on Franz Josef Land was carried out 4 years ago with the participation of Norwegian scientists. In the 80-90s of the last century, systematic surveys of dens were carried out on the Chukotka coast, in the nature reserve on Wrangel Island, but then this work was no longer carried out regularly.

To collect scattered information, it is possible to attract volunteer observers from among local residents, which is what we are doing as part of the Bear Patrol project. The data they collect helps provide some insight into the bear population.

How do you distinguish one polar bear from another without recording the same polar bear twice?

When specialists conduct observations in an area inhabited by a more or less constant number of bears, over time they begin to distinguish one individual from another “by eye”, by individual characteristics. During large-scale studies, bears are marked with radio collars and a whole range of other marks - on the ear, on the inner surface of the lips. If the bear is recaptured by scientists or killed, it will be possible to determine when and where it was last seen.

At what rate is the polar bear dying out as a species and when might it become extinct completely?

It is still premature to talk about the extinction of the polar bear. If the ice disappears in the Arctic, there is a high probability that the bear will become extinct. Although, for example, on the shores of Hudson Bay there has long been a curious population that has learned to do without summer ice. Bears build dens under the trees there.

For now, most likely, there is a certain reduction in numbers, which is difficult to assess due to the lack of accurate data.

Are there more polar bears in Canada than in Russia? Where is the situation with polar bears better?

There are slightly more bears in Canada than in Russia. In Canada and Greenland, a somewhat more comfortable environment for the species has developed, since there are many islands separated by small straits with a lot of ice, where bears can move freely. Judging by climate forecasts, it is in this region that the species will survive the longest. Therefore, Canada and Greenland are making joint efforts to create nature protection zone under the code name Last Ice Area.

At the same time, it is in Canada that sport hunting of polar bears is practiced. It also provides quotas for the indigenous population to hunt bears as part of traditional fishing. Local residents, in turn, have the right to sell their quotas to visiting hunters.

Which country is most concerned about polar bears? Which country is the most decisive in terms of taking real action on this issue?

Decisiveness in action is a relative concept here. In Norway, for example, hunting polar bears is completely prohibited. But in this country there is no indigenous population engaged in traditional crafts. In Canada and Greenland the situation is different; they cannot completely ban hunting by local peoples, although they are also concerned about the situation of the species.

Perhaps the most decisive are the actions of the United States, where in Alaska in the 80s they first introduced a quota for the shooting of bears for the indigenous population. This marked the first precedent in the history of the United States when hunting restrictions were imposed on local residents. Then the quota was about 120 - 140 animals. Now its size is 58 animals.

Poaching and other threats

How do poachers kill polar bears? With a gun or setting traps?

They shoot from guns.

Who helps orphaned polar bears? Is it possible to release them later?

As a rule, there is no need to release orphaned bear cubs into the wild: the cubs disperse well to zoos. This cannot be done after being kept in captivity. In the reserve on the island. Wrangel once released a bear cub, which spent some time with people. In the evening of the same day, he returned to the village, where everyone fed him. And then he grew into a healthy animal who walked around the neighborhood and did not let anyone pass without a can of condensed milk or a pack of cookies.

It was necessary to carry treats with you and, if the bear suddenly approached, to give him a “bribe.” A little bear cub is very funny, but when a huge animal comes up to people and tries to hug them, it’s not fun at all.

Who and how is helping wounded polar bears now? Who treats them and where?

They are treated, perhaps, only in zoos. If someone picks up a sick or injured bear cub, they will most likely send it to the nearest zoo. The task of saving a bear injured in the wild is incredibly difficult.

What to do if you find the skin of a polar bear?

Contact the TRAFFIC organization that monitors illegal trade organisms and their derivatives.

What needs to change so that poachers are caught, jailed and punished with heavy fines? Or do we need to catch their “patrons” and customers?

Of course, tougher punishments would not be out of place. Fines for poaching are now really low. But when there are not enough resources to catch poachers, such measures do not guarantee results. China has introduced the death penalty for shooting tigers, but this does not always stop people.

What needs to be done to reduce poaching to a minimum?

It is believed that in order to combat commercial poaching, it is necessary to create insurmountable obstacles to the export and trade of skins. This is very difficult: skins, as a rule, are exported on ships, and it can be almost impossible to inspect an entire ship in search of a skin.

In Canada and Alaska, it is possible to cope with poaching through a certain compromise with the indigenous people. They are given quotas to shoot a certain number of polar bears. At the same time, in Alaska, representatives local peoples have the right to use hunting products only for their own purposes. They do not have the right to sell the harvested bear skin or even give it to anyone who does not belong to the indigenous population.

Who is fighting poachers now? Arctic territories Russia?

There is practically no effective control. As a rule, control is provided by one inspector per area, the area of which is sometimes comparable to the area of a European state.

How many bears are shot for their skins, and how many for meat in general?

It would be more correct to put the question this way: how much is mined for their own use, and how much is just to sell the skin. According to our data for Chukotka, it turns out that in eastern Chukotka about 15% of bears are hunted for the sale of skins. And for meat - more than 70%. In this case, the skin can also be used on the farm, but is often thrown away altogether, so that, so to speak, no evidence remains.

In the country as a whole, the numbers are likely to be different; the share of animals hunted for skins will be higher, since the further to the west, the fewer lovers of bear meat.

Why do poachers want polar bears?

Many Chukchi shoot a bear just to eat it. This is the main motivation in about 75% of cases. The skin is of secondary importance. In the past it was used as a covering for sleds or for making pants. Now this is no longer relevant. Moreover, most bears are shot in Chukotka. In the western Arctic, if hunting is carried out, it is primarily for the sake of skins for sale.

Are polar bears threatened by oil production in the Arctic? If so, how?

Threatened, first of all, due to pollution, due to the impact on the food supply, and also due to the fact that it creates a disturbance factor. Of course, if a polar bear gets dirty in oil, it is unlikely to die immediately like birds, although it will have a very hard time. But the main thing is that if oil pollution kills the fish and leads to the disappearance of the seals, the bear will be left without food.

Polar bear lunch

Can a polar bear fish?

He is almost not adapted to this. Can only catch fish by accident. Fish is of little interest to him, but if the bear is hungry, he will eat everything.

What does a polar bear eat? Tell me, does a polar bear eat anything other than meat?

If the food supply is really bad, the bear will even try to eat herbaceous plants or kelp. But this is far from the norm for him; rather, it’s just a way to somehow fill his stomach.

By the way, if the food supply is good, then the bear will not eat meat either, but will only consume the fat of the caught seal. Especially in winter, when digesting meat is not very beneficial from an energy point of view: for digestion meat food it takes so much energy that it’s easier for the bear to go and get another seal.

What is considered a delicacy among polar bears?

Hardly anyone discussed such issues with them. But, most likely, seals are considered a delicacy among bears. Including their already decomposed corpses, which the beast also eats with great pleasure.

What animals does a polar bear eat?

He himself catches mainly seals. As a rule, a bear cannot catch large walruses, not to mention whales, although he still sometimes catches small walruses. It is too difficult for him to hunt land animals. But if a bear comes across the carcass of a dead walrus, whale, deer, or arctic fox, then he will willingly eat it. It can also eat human corpses, for example, if it kills someone by accident. If a person becomes saturated with the smell of a seal (this often happens with Chukchi hunters), the bear may mistakenly attack and eat him.

The bear feeds on common animals that are not endangered. The same animals are regularly hunted by humans.

Polar bear and man

Does a polar bear distinguish between good and evil people, poachers from forest rangers? Or maybe we all look the same to them?

It is unlikely that bears are so well-versed in psychology that they can immediately distinguish good people from evil ones. But they are curious animals with certain rudiments of intelligence. If they live in the same place and see the same people, then over time they begin to distinguish them.

Will a bear attack a person if he approaches him carefully and does not have a gun or some other object for protection?

Depends on the specific situation. As a rule, no. But it should be borne in mind that if a bear, for example, is eating something, and at that time a person with the best intentions approaches him, then the bear can easily attack: he will decide that they are trying to take away his food. If a person appears in front of a bear unexpectedly, from around a corner, the animal can kill or injure a person from fright, without having time to assess whether he poses a real threat.

What to do when meeting a polar bear? Should I run away or, on the contrary, freeze and stand still? How do you become a member of an expedition if you meet a polar bear “nose to nose”?

There is no need to run away under any circumstances. You should not make sudden movements, you need to behave calmly. If there is still room for maneuver, then it is better to slowly move out of the way of the animal to the side. If the animal is already very close, then it is better to stand. Experienced people sometimes hiss at a bear - they emit a certain bear signal, a specific hiss, which males use to warn their relatives. But such hissing must first be learned. In extreme cases, it is useful to have a large stick with you so that you can put it in front of you and try to hit the animal on the nose with it. This also drives away the bear in some cases.

Is it possible to tame a polar bear if you start from childhood so that it becomes friends with a person? Or is he too wild animal, which cannot be completely trusted, but only trained and kept in a cage?

Theoretically, it might be possible, but it’s hardly worth doing. There is more than one known case when wild animals, which were kept and raised as tame animals for many years, eventually attacked and killed people. Famous example- lion King II, who was kept by the Berberov family.

The polar bear is also a very large animal. If he is good friends with a person and suddenly decides to just play, then this will end badly for the person, even if the bear does not have the slightest aggressive intentions.

What is being done to protect people from polar bears?

It is necessary that in populated areas there were as few garbage dumps as possible and food waste easily accessible to the bear, which, first of all, attracts the beast. Waste from hunting and cutting of carcasses should be disposed of as far as possible from human habitations. The cleaner the village is, the lower the likelihood of encountering a bear.

Moving in places where there is a risk of a bear must be done with caution. The presence of a bear can be monitored by the behavior of dogs: if they become quiet, stop barking, or hide, it means that there is an animal walking somewhere nearby.

How do Chukotka residents feel about polar bears?

Positively, like a good gourmet product. Along with their main food - seal, whale, deer meat, indigenous small peoples Polar bear meat was also traditionally consumed. But, in fact, for indigenous peoples the bear is a rather sacred animal, and not everything is so simple with it. In the past, after killing an animal, it was necessary to please and appease its spirit in every possible way, which used to take several days. This was the traditional mechanism for regulating production. Until all the rituals have been completed, the next animal cannot be hunted.

Since 1956, polar bear hunting has been prohibited in Russia, so hunting it, including by local residents, is illegal. Today, many residents of Chukotka, seeing the decline in the number of this majestic beast, actively help WWF fight poachers and protect it.

I once saw a photograph of border guards feeding polar bear condensed milk. What does a bear think when they see a person? Are polar bears generally curious?

Bears are very curious and, when they see something incomprehensible, they often try to come closer. It all depends on the individual experience of the animal. If the animal has already encountered a person, been scared, chased, or shot at, then most likely it will eventually turn around and run away. If a person has never done anything bad to him before, the bear will not be afraid. If people fed it, of course, the bear will happily approach them.

What the bear thinks about this is unknown. As for feeding with condensed milk - yes, this happens. Then these fed bears have to be killed. Over time, animals get used to it, become impudent, and begin not just to beg for a treat, but to demand it. Not everyone among people is able to react correctly to their actions. When a polar bear gallops towards you, it is difficult to suspect friendly intentions, although the animal may just be counting on a treat. As a result, incidents happen with the most tragic outcome - both for people and animals.

Do bears feel comfortable in the zoo? Do you think this is humane? How do polar bears live in zoos if they need cold?

They try to create comfortable conditions for polar bears in enclosures: they fill a swimming pool with them cool water, throwing up snow. World experience shows that polar bears feel quite comfortable in zoos, at least in temperate latitudes, although they are, of course, hot in the summer. But also brown bears It can be uncomfortable in captivity in the summer.

Polar Bear House

WWF doesn't want to breed polar bears in other regions of Russia - for example, in Kamchatka or the Barents Sea?

In the Barents Sea - on the islands of Novaya Zemlya and Franz Josef Land - bears already live, these territories are included in their natural habitat. As for Kamchatka, it is unclear for what purpose to breed them there and how to do it. The polar bear's problem is the reduction of ice, but there is certainly no more ice in Kamchatka than on the coast of the Arctic Ocean.

Are there any excursions to nature reserves where you can see polar bears in the wild?

Eat. From time to time, Western companies offer exciting cruises, including New Earth and Franz Josef Land. You can also come to Spitsbergen, and theoretically to Wrangel Island, although cruises there are extremely rare. In any case, all these trips are extremely expensive.

Can a polar bear live near a city? How much space does one polar bear need?

How much space a bear needs depends on the availability and accessibility of food. In the Arctic, food resources for bears are typically dispersed across large areas, and the animal makes long journeys: from about. Wrangel - to Alaska, from there - south through the Bering Strait, then back to the north, etc. This is their normal life regime.

Polar bears also live near cities, for example in Chukotka. Biggest Russian city within their range - Pevek (Chukotka).

Is it possible to relocate a polar bear to Antarctica and penguins to the Arctic? Have there been such attempts?

No, there have been no such attempts, and, apparently, there will not be any. It is unlikely that they could bring anything good. The meaning of such relocations is not particularly clear, although purely theoretically they may be possible.

General issues about polar bears

How many bear cubs survive and how many die in nature?

The mortality rate among cubs in the first year of life is at least 30%. It may increase due to the anxiety of bears caused by human activity, due to the need to overcome long distances by swimming due to the reduction in ice area (such swims are dangerous especially for small bear cubs with an insufficiently developed layer of subcutaneous fat).

The reduction in the area of summer ice is generally very unfavorable for polar bear breeding. Mother bears leave the ice in the fall to reach certain areas on the shore and lie down in a den. But due to climate change, they have to travel ever greater distances. As a result, some female bears either lie down in their dens exhausted, or do not have time to get to the den sites in time. This greatly reduces the offspring's chances of survival.

Due to climate change, the likelihood of spring rains, which can damage the den, is also increasing. This is very dangerous for small bear cubs.

How fast can a polar bear run? What about swimming?

Swims at a speed of 4-5 km/hour, walks about 10 km/hour. He can run 40 km/h, but he gets tired quickly.

How quickly do polar bears reproduce? How long does a bear's pregnancy last and how does it proceed? How and for how long does she care for the cubs?

On average, bears breed once every three years. Pregnancy lasts about six months. The female bear goes to the den where the birth takes place around November and spends there without going out for at least 3 months. At this time, she lives only thanks to fat reserves.

Newborns are helpless and weigh about 600 g. As a rule, a female gives birth to one to three cubs. In the 1970s, on Wrangel Island, scientists calculated: litters with two cubs amounted to 70.3%, with one - 25.5%, with three - 4.2%. During her life, the female brings no more than 8-12 cubs.

Mother bears with cubs emerge from their dens from the end of February to the end of April. The cubs walk with their mother for about 2.5-3 years, then they begin to live independently. Mating in polar bears occurs from April to early June. If the cubs die within two months of leaving the den, the female bear has a chance to become pregnant again in the same season.

Can polar bears climb trees?

Probably not.

Why is a polar bear sometimes yellow?

In fact, yellowish color is the natural coloring of the polar bear. Young cubs can be snow-white, but adult animals are normally yellowish, with a slightly lemony tint. Also, the color of the coat can be influenced by the composition of the animal’s food.

By the way, due to the structure of the hairs, a polar bear sometimes (in a hot humid climate, for example in zoos) may take on a greenish tint. A polar bear's hairs are hollow inside and can harbor microscopic algae.

Probably, polar bears, like all furry animals, shed a couple of times a year, changing their summer coat to a winter one and vice versa in the spring. Are polar bears different in color in summer and winter?

The polar bear is always among the snow, swimming in cold water. Therefore, although he sheds, his fur does not undergo significant changes over the seasons. Shedding occurs gradually over a long period of time.

How do polar bears communicate with each other? Sounds? Gestures?

Polar bears in general communicate little with each other; they normally lead a solitary lifestyle. But when they do interact with each other, they do so through voice, gestures and touch.

What diseases does a polar bear suffer from?

The most dangerous and common disease is trichinosis.

Why do polar bears have black skin? I've heard that they're not really white, they just seem that way.

The polar bear has yellowish translucent fur. Its hairs transmit solar light radiation to the skin and delay thermal radiation from the skin during external environment. Dark (highly pigmented) skin helps absorb solar energy more efficiently. It turns out that the skin of a polar bear works like a greenhouse to prevent the animal from freezing.

What is the life expectancy of a polar bear?

In nature, 25-30 years, in captivity up to 40 or a little more.

How many teeth do polar bears have?

What is the weight of the largest and smallest polar bears?

Female polar bears weigh 200-300 kg, males - up to 400-500 kg. There are known cases when the weight of a male was 800 kg.

What is the relationship between a female and male polar bear after the birth of a cub?

The female and male separate before the baby appears. In the future, they try not to intersect, since adult males willingly snack on small cubs.

What is the difference in character between a polar bear and a brown bear?

The brown bear is an exclusively terrestrial species. He doesn't specialize in anything certain type food, in large quantities consumes plant foods - berries, nuts. The polar bear is a much more specialized animal, almost entirely marine, semi-aquatic, focused mainly on predation. In terms of aggressiveness, a polar bear is, as a rule, somewhat calmer than a brown bear.

How are Russian, American and Norwegian polar bears different?

Scientists have identified more than 20 local populations of polar bears. On the territory of Russia, according to the Red Book of the Russian Federation, there are three of them: Barents Sea-Kara, Laptev and Chukotka-Alaska. Representatives of different populations differ from each other in various subtleties in morphology and genetics. For example, bears from the Chukchi-Alaskan population are larger than those from the Barents Sea.

Radio collars, once ordered by domestic researchers based on measurements taken in Chukotka, turned out to be too big for bears in Franz Josef Land.

However, there are no fundamental, global differences between bears in different parts no habitat.

What does "Umka" mean?

“Umky” means “polar bear” in Chukchi. In Eskimo it is called “nanuk”.