Question 2 of 21

According to historical records, there were polar bears in 57 A.D. Where were they seen?

... The reference to polar bears in 57 A.D. concerns itself with their appearance as combatants in ancient Roman amphitheaters.

Question 3 of 21

Who were the first people to keep polar bears captive?

... The first were the pharaohs of ancient Egypt and kings of early Norway.

Question 4 of 21

How much can a male polar bear weigh?

... A male can weigh as much as 1,700 pounds (770 kilos). He can also stand up to 10 feet (three meters) tall.

Question 5 of 21

In frigid temperatures, how much does the polar bear's body temperature change?

... The polar bear is so suited to this environment that its body temperature doesn't need to change at all.

Question 6 of 21

If climate trends continue, scientists predict that polar bears could be extinct by the year:

... They are concerned that polar bears could be extinct as soon as 2050.

Question 7 of 21

What does scientific evidence suggest as the ancestral predecessor of the polar bear?

... The brown bear was the polar bear's ancestral predecessor.

Question 8 of 21

Worldwide, there are about _____ brown bears as opposed to 25,000 polar bears.

... There are many more brown bears than polar bears, with some 200,000 worldwide.

Question 9 of 21

Where do polar bears live: near the North Pole or the South Pole?

... They live solely near the North Pole, with none at all in the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 10 of 21

How does global warming affect the polar bear's survival?

... Due to global warming, ice sheets are reduced. These are vital for the animal's survival because it relies on them for its food supply.

Question 11 of 21

What happens to the bears from October to February?

... The bears live in total darkness during these months -- and are perfectly happy!

Question 12 of 21

What do polar bears love to eat?

... They love to eat seal, especially ringed or bearded seal.

Question 13 of 21

How long will a polar bear wait for a seal to come up through a breathing hole?

... Sometimes it will wait patiently at the breathing hole for a few days at a time.

Question 14 of 21

Do polar bears ever share their kill?

... If fellow polar bears beg properly, then a polar bear will share its kill.

Question 15 of 21

When do polar bears mate?

... They usually mate in the spring, just like most animals.

Question 16 of 21

How many litters do average female polar bears have during their lifetime?

... They usually have about five litters, from the age of about six years.

Question 17 of 21

What do polar bear cubs eat in the first months of their lives?

... They eat their mother's natural high-fat breast milk, which nourishes them for the first few months.

Question 18 of 21

Under what circumstances will a polar bear attack a human?

... It's very rare for this to happen. A polar bear would do so only if he's super-hungry or provoked.

Question 19 of 21

What was the traditional attitude of the Inuit people of Alaska toward the polar bear?

... Interestingly, the Inuit people regarded the polar bear as a near-human, referring to it as Nanuk.

Question 20 of 21

In all of Russian recorded history, how many people have been killed by polar bears?

... In all that time, fewer than 20 people have been killed.

Question 21 of 21

In Svalbard, Norway, what do residents do if they're afraid of a polar bear attack?

... They try all manner of scare tactics without provoking the animal to attack. If that fails, they sometimes shoot.