Polar bears live in one of the coldest regions on earth, where the average temperature, even during the warmest month of July, falls to 10 °C (50 °F). The Arctic is situated in the northernmost region of the world. The lowest temperature ever recorded there is −68 °C (−90 °F), along with strong winds during winters. So how do polar bears survive in hot climates?
Polar bears are not well suited to hot weather because they are designed to survive in cold climates. They can keep warm in chilly surroundings because they have a thick coating of insulating fat and a dense fur coat. Thereby, they are unable to survive in the heat.
As global temperatures continue to rise, polar bears encounter more difficulties surviving due to habitat loss and decreased food supplies. This article will explore polar bears’ characteristics and climate change’s impact on them.
Are Polar Bears Heat Resistant?
If you wonder whether polar bears resist heat, the answer is no. Polar bears have many adaptations that help them endure the bitter cold. They cannot endure the heat, not even for a day. If polar bears are born in warm environments, they will most likely perish instantly.
Additionally, polar bears may become overheated even in Arctic conditions if they run for a few minutes nonstop. Polar bears tend to give up in most cases because the heat inside their bodies becomes trapped, which threatens their lives.
The following sections will investigate why polar bears cannot survive in heat:
The Fur Of Polar Bears Is Thick
Polar bears have thick white fur that provides excellent insulation. The bear has two layers of fur. The bear is protected by its guard hairs and thick underfur, even in the freezing Arctic conditions.
Due to their thick coats, polar bears may be unable to withstand the heat if they are moved to warm areas.
Habitat Characteristics Of Polar Bears
As with their prey, polar bears inhabit cold environments. Their main diet is seals, which, like polar bears, are not known to survive in warm climates.
Therefore, it is logical to expect that polar bears and seals will perish if the Arctic weather somehow grows warmer, which is exceedingly unlikely. That is because they are not adapted to alternate conditions.
Polar Bears And Climate Change
Polar bear populations have already been negatively impacted by climate change, and scientists are concerned that this trend will continue if global warming follows prior trends.
We all know too well that global warming causes temperatures to rise yearly, and current measures to control it are ineffective.
Polar bears can only be found in the Arctic, where they travel on vast ice sheets. Their natural habitat is being destroyed when this ice begins to melt, and there is no way to restore it. The only exceptions are animals kept in zoos in captivity, where it is warmer.
Although they can live there, polar bears are not left to fend for themselves in the wild. Watch this video of a polar bear at the San Diego zoo:
Polar Bears Show Off Their Hunting Abilities | The Zoo: San Diego
These climate changes also impact the Polar Bear’s primary food source. Their primary source of food is the numerous varieties of seals that exist.
The Polar Bears discover that they have less food because these seals have to move to find their sustenance.
Another issue is that polar bears relocate for food and a comfortable environment. Many have ended up in places where they are too near to people to feel safe. There is no doubt that polar bears might adjust to warmer environments.
The issue is that they would also need to alter what they consume. There is little doubt that this will throw off the equilibrium of the food chain.
Additionally, it will affect how many polar bears can live. Even while evolution is possible, it will not happen without a significant population loss because only the strongest will endure.
The shifting ice mass has been discovered to be a major issue for many Polar Bears. They are accustomed to using it to travel from land to water and back.
The ice formation that polar bears travel on to reach land could melt or break up while they are there. They can become stuck on a piece of land as a result. They might not survive if there is not enough food there.
For comfort, polar bears also require colder temperatures. You might feel bad for them when you see them out in the bitter cold. There is no need to, though, as their bodies get too heated at just 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Scientists Predictions
Many scientists are worried about the Polar Bears’ survival due to the Arctic region’s average temperature rising by a few degrees yearly.
Even though the water in the Arctic is frequently far below freezing, a Polar Beer is more likely to die from everything than from freezing. Their bodies are built to withstand extremely cold but not extremely hot temperatures. It can be challenging to pinpoint a Polar Bear’s exact cause of demise.
There is hardly any possibility of looking at their remains. However, many researchers believe that heat significantly damages or shuts down the body’s functioning, frequently resulting in early death.
Unfortunately, it is predicted that all of the polar bear species will become extinct in less than a hundred years\ if the current pace of climate change is maintained. That is a rather bleak picture. Thus, immediate action is required to safeguard their natural surroundings.
Conclusion
To sum up, polar bears are not adapted to live in hot climes. They rely on their thick fur and insulating fat to keep warm because they have evolved to survive extremely cold conditions. Unfortunately, the effects of climate change on the Arctic region are melting ice caps and reducing polar bears’ access to food.
Polar bears’ numbers are suffering due to this trend, so action must be taken now to protect their natural habitats before it is too late.
