The polar bear is the world's largest carnivore, roaming the Arctic Ocean and its surrounding seas. Find out more about these magnificent animals including the best places to see them, such as Churchill, Canada, and when to go.
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Canada and Alaska
Polar bears play fighting, Churchill, Manitoba.
Polar bears are found in Russia, Denmark (Greenland), the remote Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, Canada and Alaska; Audley operate trips to all of these places.
They are the largest land predators in the world, preying mainly on seals although they will eat any animal they can catch, including humans (it's the only animal known to actively stalk humans).
In winter, they spend most of their time on Arctic ice floes, patiently waiting beside seal breathing holes for a seal to appear. In summer they have to retreat back onto land as the ice melts and it's here that they have to change their hunting approach by sneaking up on seals while they rest.
Their remarkable sense of smell enables them to detect a food source from over 30km away, which unfortunately, often brings them into conflict with humans.
They are insulated by a four inch layer of fat, plus two layers of fur. This combination allows the bear to survive temperature drops as low as -50C, in addition to enabling it to swim for long periods in the freezing Arctic waters. A further aquatic adaptation to aid swimming is partially webbed feet.
The best method of seeing them close up is via an organised trip on the specially adapted Tundra Buggy. From one of these vehicles you can often get (safely) within touching distance and it is then you realise just how big these animals really are.
The polar bear's current conservation status is classified as low risk but no one really knows how global warming will affect its long term survival.