The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is the largest land carnivore on Earth and a symbol of the Arctic. Adult males typically weigh 350–650 kg and measure 2–3 m in length, while females weigh 150–350 kg. Polar bears are superbly adapted to life on sea ice with dense white fur, insulating fat and black skin that absorbs sunlight. Their enormous size and the challenge of hunting them on the frozen ocean make them a unique trophy for a select few.
In Canada, polar bear hunts are tightly regulated and available only through Inuit outfitters in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. Hunters travel on dog sleds with Inuit guides across the sea ice, searching for mature males during the spring when bears are active and ice conditions allow safe travel. Tags are limited under a quota system, and non‑resident hunters must secure a permit and be accompanied by a licensed guide; cubs, females with cubs and bears in dens are off‑limits. Hunts often involve long hours of glassing and stalking in extreme cold, and success depends on weather and ice conditions.
Polar bears number roughly 22 000–31 000 worldwide and are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Canada’s management system allocates about 3.5 percent of the population to annual harvest and balances conservation needs with Inuit subsistence rights. Quotas are set by joint government and Inuit wildlife boards; only about half of the tags may be used for guided trophy hunts, and revenue from these hunts provides significant income for Arctic communities and funds polar bear research. The chief threat to the species is climate‑change‑driven loss of sea ice, which reduces hunting success and cub survival.
Polar bears spend most of their lives on sea ice hunting seals and can swim long distances between ice floes. Their sense of smell allows them to detect seal breathing holes from far away. Scientists consider them sentinel species for the health of the Arctic ecosystem and monitor their populations closely. Traditional Inuit culture regards the polar bear with respect, and meat from harvested bears is shared among the community.
Polar Bear can be found in the following location:
Polar Bear has the following variations:
- (Varieties to be confirmed)
