Polar Bears Research Paper

Words: 904
Pages: 4

The Polar Bears
Preamble:
Polar bears, known as Ursus maritimus, are carnivorous, marine mammals that thrive in the cold Arctic Oceans and stand as one of the most endangered species of animals on the planet. They are classified as ‘marine mammals’ because they spend a significant portion of their lives on the sea and ice of the Arctic regions. Polar bears are also quite proficient swimmers as they can swim with their front paws at speeds exceeding 4km/h- which is, in fact, an impressive speed for any animal. Interestingly, these arctic creatures spend at least 50% of their lives in hunting and gathering food. Their staple diets are rich in fat, which they obtain from consuming several (2-7 typically) seals for meals every day. They require this fat so they can survive in their cold habitats and can generate enough heat to insulate themselves. With an outstanding weight ranging between 300-600 kilograms, the Polar bears widely receive the distinction of being the one, if not the biggest, of the biggest mammals on earth. Unfortunately, the creatures also share a concerning
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Oil developments in the Arctic have exponentially increased during the past century, with the increase in the likelihood of oil spills occurring. In the recent years, research has suggested that oil spills damage the sustainability of Polar bears in several ways. Mainly, they contaminate the nearby land and the seals, causing innocent Polar bears to become victims of death. Many times, Polar bears accidentally absorb oil from oil spills in the furs, which immediately results in a failure of their kidney, and shortly after, their death. As the furs become covered in oil, Polar bears also lose the advantage of using them as their source of insulation, and often shortly die from