Photos: 10 Incredible Pictures of Polar Bears in the Wild

Maddi Higgins Mar 1, 2014

There is nothing quite like seeing polar bears in their natural habitat. These powerful “kings of the arctic” rule the unforgiving landscape of the North. We’ve compiled ten stunning photos that capture the true majesty of these wild predators.

*The “Last Ice Area”—ice in the High Arctic of Canada and Greenland that scientists believe may persist longer than anywhere else—is 500,00 square miles. Photo © Staffan Widstrand/WWF*

Polar bears come ashore in the summer months when the ice recedes. Climate change is increasing the length of arctic summers. Photo (c) Eric Rock — *Polar bears come ashore in the summer months when the ice recedes. Climate change is increasing the length of arctic summers. Photo © Eric Rock*

Polar bears are social creatures and often communicate with their noses. Photo (c) Glen Delman — *Polar bears are social creatures and often communicate with their noses. Photo © Glen Delman*

Female polar bears usually give birth to two cubs. The cubs depend almost totally on their mothers for survival for at least the first 20 months. Photo (c) Michel Terrettaz/WWF-Canon — *Female polar bears usually give birth to two cubs. The cubs depend almost totally on their mothers for survival for at least the first 20 months. Photo © Michel Terrettaz/WWF-Canon*

Polar bears are accomplished swimmers; they can sustain a swimming pace of 6.2 miles per hour their fur is water resistant. Photo (c) Paul Nicklen/National Geographic/WWF-Canada — *Polar bears are accomplished swimmers; they can sustain a swimming pace of 6.2 miles per hour. Their fur is water resistant. Photo © Paul Nicklen/National Geographic/WWF-Canada*

Despite the harsh conditions of their environment, polar bears tend to overheat easily due to their fur’s incredibly efficient insulating properties. Photo (c) naturepl.com/Andy Rouse/WWF-Canon — *Despite the harsh conditions of their environment, polar bears tend to overheat easily due to their fur’s incredibly efficient insulating properties. Photo © naturepl.com/Andy Rouse/WWF-Canon*

Polar bear tracking allows WWF to receive regular updates about polar bears’ locations and how they may be affected by climate change. Photo (c) Melissa Scott — *Polar bear tracking allows WWF to receive regular updates about polar bears’ locations and how they may be affected by climate change. Photo © Melissa Scott*

Play fighting occurs between male bears to tune up hunting skills; fighting is aggressive when it occurs between males during breeding season or when attempting to steal food. Photo (c) Jeff A. Goldberg — Play fighting occurs between male bears to tune up hunting skills; fighting is aggressive when it occurs between males during breeding season or when attempting to steal food. Photo © Jeff A. Goldberg

Polar bears like to keep clean. After feeding, they will usually wash themselves by taking a swim in the sea or by rolling around in the loose snow. Photo (c) Patrick J. Endres — *Polar bears like to keep clean. After feeding, they will usually wash themselves by taking a swim in the sea or by rolling around in the loose snow. Photo © Patrick J. Endres*

The hair of a polar bear contains no pigment; the reflection of light gives the polar bears their white appearance. The skin underneath their fur is black. Photo (c) Tania Segura/WWF-US — *The hair of a polar bear contains no pigment; the reflection of light gives the polar bears their white appearance. The skin underneath their fur is black. Photo © Tania Segura/WWF-US*

See polar bears in the wild with WWF and Nat Hab.

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