The Polar Bear is an impressive and formidable animal. The male adult weight is between nine hundred to sixteen hundred pounds (410 – 720 Kg). This is how the Encyclopedia Britannica describes them: “The polar bear is the largest and most powerful carnivore on land, a title it shares with a subspecies of brown bear called the Kodiak bear. It has no natural predators and knows no fear of humans, making it an extremely dangerous animal.”
Their natural habitat is ice flows and the preferred food is Seals. They are well adapted to the frozen arctic region. They are as comfortable in the water as they are on the land.
Watch the video to see how comfortable they are in the water.
They get around well on land too.
In the wild, they live 25 to 30 years on average. In captivity they have been known to live to thirty five or more. Their biggest enemy is man, usually because of hunting but also by destroying their habitat through global warming and pollution.
The Toronto Zoo is part of a project they call Plastic Pathway that is working to bring awareness to people, industries and governments of the plastic pollution problem.
Here is a link to learn about their work and their partners. https://www.pollutionprobe.org/plastics-pathway-at-toronto-zoo-makes-learning-about-plastic-pollution-and-solutions-easy-with-new-app/
The image above of a polar bear is made from pieces of plastic garbage that have been collected around the zoo property. So much from such a small space. Take a closer look.
When I watch these magnificent animals I have to keep reminding myself that they are very dangerous and are not pets. You may have seen videos of bears scratching their backs on a tree trunk. Here, the pool is like a spa and a back scratch is available on the edge of the rocks.
The zoo is continually expanding and improving the habitat for all of the animals. The polar bears are getting a new salt water pool. It may be better for them as well as for the equipment maintenance.
I watched them float on their back and do backward somersaults in the pool but was not able to get a video of it.
These polar bears have a comfortable home here at the Toronto Zoo but in the wild, their life is much different.
Lovely visit with the bears! Our Aquarium in Newport, Oregon has similar sculptures made of plastic and junk!
The Zero Waste movement in our town sparkled the state group. ‘We will lead by example to help McMinnville and Oregon become more sustainable through pragmatic zero waste policies and civic engagement.’
Part of the plan is a quarterly ‘plastic project,’ where folks can bring clean plastic that our curbside collection doesn’t accept. ($4 for a bag, different 1# go into seperate bins)
Another piece – the option of spending 5$ for a stainless steel ‘leftover’ container at participating restaurants – which can be returned (to be asked and sanitized) the next time you eat out – and you’ll get a fresh container! (I bring my own stainless steel tiffen for planned overs)
They also provide stainless steel ‘sample cups’ to venders at our farmers market.
My dad was recycling in the 60s (mostly cans) and would be glad to see this project!
Nadya
Thanks for the wonderful comment Nadya.
Now we just need more people taking action and finding a way to remove the microplastic from everywhere. Last week I read that they found it in milk and butter.
For a moment I thought you’d made it all the way to the North Pole, Doug! 😊 But the Toronto Zoo sounds like a great stand-in — and your post really brings the polar bears to life. I love that they’re getting a saltwater pool, sounds like proper arctic spa treatment! The plastic art installation is such a creative (and sobering) reminder of how much work there still is to do for their real-world habitat.
I worry about all the plastic that is tossed and any animal can get caught in it, especially the plastic that holds soda cans and bottles. My daughter loves polar bears and the zoo looks like a great place to visit.