FREE ESSAY ON POLAR VS. BROWN BEAR

POLAR VS. BROWN BEAR

There are eight different species of bears found throughout 
the world: the spectacled bear, the Asiatic black bear, the brown 
bear (including grizzlies), the polar bear, the sun bear, the 
American black bear, the sloth bear and the giant panda. 
Even though most people can distinguish a polar bear from a brown 
bear by the color of the fur, a lot of people fail to identify all the 
differences among those two species. Both bears can be perceived as 
large, clumsy and lumbering beasts with heavily built bodies but short 
legs, necks and tails. Both of them have rounded ears and noticeably 
small eyes relative to their large body size. While both of the bears 
belong to same family, they have several profound differences. They 
live in different geographical areas, differ in amount of the 
population, size, physical features, some eating habits, and their 
behavior toward human beings. 
The polar bear is found in all of the polar regions of the entire 
northern hemisphere. This includes Russia, Norway, Greenland, The 
United States and Canada. Their preferred habitat is in the area where 
the northern seas meet the shoreline. In this area, there is a constant 
freezing and thawing of the ice. It is estimated that there are 
currently somewhere between 20,000 and 40,000 polar bears.
The polar bear is the largest member of the bear family, weighing 
in at between 440 and 1760 pounds with overall body length 11.5 feet.
It can grow much larger, however. In fact, there is a record of an 
adult polar bear weighing over 2200 pounds. 
Polar bears have a distinctive all white fur which is important 
camouflage when hunting on the ice pack. Their actual color of the 
skin is black which is thought to be an adaptation for better heat 
retention. Compared to the other bears, the neck of polar bear is 
much longer. This makes it easier for them to keep their heads above 
water when swimming. Like those of other bears, the ears of the polar 
bear are round. They are, however, smaller and closer to the head. 
This also helps the animal to be an exceptional swimmer. The forepaws on a 
polar bear are very large. With a diameter approaching 12 inches and 
partial webbing between their toes, polar bears are able to use their 
front feet much like paddles to propel them rapidly through the water. 
Polar bears are excellent swimmers. They are able to swim distances 
greater than 60 miles without a pause to rest, maintaining average 
speed of 6 miles per hour. On land, they are not as quick as brown 
bears and appear to have traded off speed for their extremely massive forelegs which they
use to break through seal dens and to flip a large seal out of the water.
Polar bears have also developed large stomachs with a capacity of more than 150 pounds of
food. Their digestive system is also more adapted for processing meat than plant material
because they are almost exclusively meat eaters. While out on the ice, their diet
consists mostly of marine mammals such as the ringed seals, bearded seals and
occasionally a walrus or narwhal. Also, in keeping with their carnivorous nature, the
canine teeth, used for seizing and holding prey, are longer, sharper and spaced wider
apart than in brown bears.
Polar bear are at the top of the arctic food chain with no natural 
enemies. Because of that, compared to other bears, polar bears are the 
most aggressive and more willing to consider humans as a prey. In 
other words, when they see a human, they see a walking meal. 
Consequently the person attacked is usually killed unless the bear is 
killed first. The most carnivorous, they are also the most patient and determined all of
bears. In some instances they may follow a person for hundreds of miles in order to hunt
him down. Out of eight species polar bear is considered to be the most dangerous to human
beings.
The brown bear has the most widespread distribution in the world of 
any of the eight bear species. They are found throughout most of the 
northern hemisphere including North America and Eurasia. Their 
preferred habitat includes mountain forests, open meadows and large 
river valleys. It is estimated that there are currently somewhere 
between 125,000 to 150,000 brown bears throughout the world. 
The brown bear is one largest bear species, yet considerably smaller
than the polar bear. It weighs between 300 and 860 and can be up to 9.5 
feet in total body length depending on the availability of food. 
Brown bears can run and climb with considerable skill, speed and 
dexterity. They are able to attain speeds of 35 mile per hour for a 
short distance. They are also capable swimmers.
The brown bear distinguishes itself from other bears by virtue of 
its shoulder hump, which is caused by muscles which are used for 
digging. The front claws are approximately 1.7 times longer than the 
rear claws and generally visible even from distance. The color of the 
animal varies from a light creamy color to almost black. 
Brown bears are omnivorous, eating a mixed diet of grasses, fruits, 
bulbs and roots, insects, fish and small animals. In few areas there 
are known to be predators of larger animals such as caribou and moose. 
Each of the brown bears has a different temperament rather like 
humans. Some will attack, others will not. Some bears are scared of 
humans, others will have a have natural curiosity. Brown bears may be 
very dangerous. However, most of the time a they more likely to 
attack when defending cubs or territory. A stalking brown bear is even 
a more rare occasion. 
Even though polar and brown bears have a lot in common they differ in
many ways such as amount of population, size, areas of living, physical 
characteristics and attitudes towards people. Scientists have studied these 
magnificent animals for many years, but there is still much to learn about 
them. They are very complex and fascinating creatures that deserve great 
respect. 
Bibliography
no biography