Which country is known for polar bears?

Videos of polar bears sliding across snowy landscapes are always fascinating. They present as a warm hug even as they survive in some of the chilliest regions on Earth.

Found in the icy Arctic region, polar bears are the world's largest land-based carnivores.

Did you know there is one country that is especially famous for its polar bear population?

Just as Australia is known for kangaroos and Indonesia is famous for Komodo dragons, Canada is widely known for its polar bears.

Why is Canada famous for polar bears?

Polar bears spend most of their lives in, around, or on the sea ice. Their Latin name, Ursus maritimus, means "sea bear". Sea ice is essential for their survival because it is where they hunt, travel, breed and in some regions, build maternity dens.

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Canada is home to the largest population of polar bears in the world. According to recent estimates, around 16,000 polar bears live in Canada. This accounts for nearly two-thirds of the world's estimated polar bear population of 26,000 animals.

The global population is divided into 19 subpopulations. Of these, 13 are managed or co-managed by Canada. More than 90 per cent of Canada's polar bears are found in the northern territories including Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, and Labrador, as per the World Population Review.

Where are polar bears found?

According to the organisation Polar Bears International, polar bears live in frozen Arctic environments. There are 20 recognised subpopulations spread across five Arctic regions:

Canada remains the most important habitat because it supports the largest number of wild polar bears.

Why are polar bears vulnerable?

As per the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), "Polar bears are classified as vulnerable. There are between 22,000 to 31,000 polar bears left in the wild, but climate change is making life tough for these impressive, powerful predators."

Rising temperatures are causing Arctic sea ice to melt. Since polar bears depend on sea ice to hunt seals, their main food source, the loss of ice threatens their survival.

The international organisation Polar Bears International predicts that if current Arctic warming trends continue, two-thirds of the world's polar bears could disappear by 2050.

What makes polar bears unique?

The polar bear is the largest member of the bear family, Ursidae. Its body, neck and head are generally longer than those of other bear species. While Kodiak bears can sometimes grow larger, polar bears are considered the largest bear species overall.

Their bodies are covered with thick fur except for their nose and the pads of their feet. Their coat can appear pure white or creamy yellow, depending on the season and lighting conditions.

The cultural importance of polar bears in Canada

Official reports also highlight the cultural significance of polar bears in Canada.

The Department of Environment, Canada notes, "Inuit do not hunt solely for international commercial trade, but they do benefit from it. Hunting is not a hobby or a luxury; for many it is a necessity. Inuit have relied on species like caribou, ringed seal, and polar bear as sources of sustenance for millennia."

The department also states that guided hunting in the Northwest Territories can provide conservation benefits because hunting tags assigned to guided hunts cannot be reused.

Where can you see polar bears in Canada?

One of the world's largest known polar bear maternity denning areas is located in Wapusk National Park. The park lies within the range of the Western Hudson Bay polar bear population.

Another famous destination is Churchill, often called the "polar bear capital of the world".

Located on the shores of Hudson Bay, Churchill attracts more than a thousand polar bears each year between late October and early November. During this period, the bears gather along the coast and wait for the bay to freeze so they can begin their winter migration and hunting season, says Fresh Tracks Canada, which is at the helm organising these viewing tours.

The nearby Cape Churchill peninsula becomes one of the best places in the world to observe polar bears in the wild. It offers visitors a rare chance to see these animals resting, playing and preparing for life on the sea ice.