Polar Bearホッキョクグマ

Ursus maritimusVU— Vulnerable

The polar bear is the largest living bear and land carnivore, ranging across the Arctic sea ice of Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Russia, and Svalbard. Its transparent, hollow fur appears white through light scattering, and it relies almost entirely on hunting ringed seals from the ice. Sea ice loss driven by climate change is its primary threat, with a 2008 study projecting that two-thirds of the world's polar bears could vanish by 2050; the IUCN currently lists the species as Vulnerable.

Polar Bear (reference photo)
Photo: Alan Wilson / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Carnivora / Ursidae Source
Distribution
Found across the Arctic in Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Russia, and the Svalbard Archipelago. Source

Did You Know?

  • Its fur is actually transparent and hollow, appearing white because it scatters incoming light. Source
  • Polar bears are thought to have diverged from a common ancestor with brown bears roughly 150,000 years ago, evolving highly specialized adaptations to Arctic life. Source
  • A 2008 study projected that two-thirds of the world's polar bears could disappear by 2050 due to climate-driven sea ice loss. Source

Where to See This Species

18 facilities · 14 individuals

Tennoji ZooOsakaOpened in 1915

在籍個体を確認 Source

No.0091In residence

Houchan

ホウちゃん

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

Sex
Female
Born
November 25, 2020
VU— Vulnerable

横浜市立よこはま動物園 (Yokohama Shiritsu Yokohama Doubutsuen)KanagawaOpened in 1999

在籍個体を確認 Source

No.0092In residence

Icchan

イッちゃん

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

Sex
Female
Born
around 2013
VU— Vulnerable
No.0093In residence

Rai

ライ

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

Sex
Male
Born
November 18, 2024
VU— Vulnerable

Asahiyama ZooHokkaidoOpened in 1967

在籍個体を確認 Source

No.0095In residence

Hokuto

ホクト

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

Sex
Male
Born
around 2000
VU— Vulnerable
No.0096In residence

Pirika

ピリカ

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

Sex
Female
Born
December 15, 2005
VU— Vulnerable

神戸市立王子動物園 (Koube Shiritsu Ouji Doubutsuen)Hyogo阪急「王子公園」駅から西へ徒歩3分。

在籍個体を確認 Source

No.0097In residence

Yume

ゆめ

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

Sex
Female
Born
December 10, 2021
VU— Vulnerable

浜松市動物園 (Hamamatsushi Doubutsuen)ShizuokaOpened in 1950

在籍個体を確認 Source

No.0098In residence

Yuki

ユキ

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

Sex
Female
Born
November 26, 1999
VU— Vulnerable

男鹿水族館GAO (Oga Suizokukan Gao)AkitaOpened in 2004

在籍個体を確認 Source

No.0100In residence

Gouta

豪太

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

Sex
Male
Born
November 26, 2003
VU— Vulnerable
No.0101In residence

Momo

モモ

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

Sex
Female
Born
November 25, 2014
VU— Vulnerable
No.0102In residence

Momota

モモ太

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

Sex
Male
Born
December 4, 2025
VU— Vulnerable

札幌市円山動物園 (Sapporoshimaruyama Doubutsuen)HokkaidoOpened in 1951

在籍個体を確認 Source

No.0104In residence

Lara

ララ

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

Sex
Female
Born
November 20, 1994
VU— Vulnerable
No.0106In residence

Rira

リラ

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

Sex
Female
Born
December 21, 2014
VU— Vulnerable
No.0107In residence

Light

ライト

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

Sex
Male
Born
November 21, 2013
VU— Vulnerable

とくしま動物園 (Tokushima Doubutsuen)Tokushima

在籍個体を確認 Source

No.0108In residence

Pororo

ポロロ

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

Sex
Female
Born
around 2012
VU— Vulnerable

アドベンチャーワールド (Adobencha World)WakayamaOpened in 1978

アドベンチャーワールドのWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

おびひろ動物園 (Obihiro Doubutsuen)Hokkaido帯広駅からとかちバス「70系統 大空団地行」で約18分「動物園前」下車徒歩約300m、または拓殖バスで約16分「緑ケ丘6丁目博物館入口」下車徒歩約600m。

おびひろ動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

愛媛県立とべ動物園 (Ehime Kenritsu Tobe Doubutsuen)EhimeOpened in 1988

愛媛県立とべ動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

横浜市立野毛山動物園 (Yokohama Shiritsu Nogeyama Doubutsuen)KanagawaOpened in 1951

横浜市立野毛山動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Hirakawa ZooKagoshimaJR指宿枕崎線「五位野駅」から徒歩約20分、またはバスで「福平農協前」から「谷山・動物園行き」に乗車し終点下車。

鹿児島市平川動物公園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

周南市徳山動物園 (Shuunanshitokuyama Doubutsuen)YamaguchiOpened in 1960

周南市徳山動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

仙台市八木山動物公園 (Sendaishiyagiyama Doubutsu Kouen)Miyagi仙台市地下鉄東西線「八木山動物公園駅」中央1出口からエレベーターですぐ(仙台駅から約12分)。

仙台市八木山動物公園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

東京都恩賜上野動物園 (Toukyoutoonshiueno Doubutsuen)TokyoOpened in 1882

東京都恩賜上野動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

姫路市立動物園 (Himeji Shiritsu Doubutsuen)HyogoOpened in 1951

姫路市立動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical GardensAichiOpened in 1937

名古屋市東山動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Latest news

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Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNレッドリストでVulnerable(危急種)に指定されている(2015年評価)。世界の個体数は約22,000〜31,000頭と推定される。

Habitat

グリーンランド、カナダ、アラスカ、ロシア、スヴァールバル諸島など北極圏の海氷を主な生息地とする。

Threats

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

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Individuals Remembered

No.0094In memoriam

Gogo

ゴーゴ

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

横浜市立よこはま動物園 (Yokohama Shiritsu Yokohama Doubutsuen)

Sex
Male
Born
December 3, 2004
VU— Vulnerable
No.0099In memoriam

Baffin

バフィン

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

浜松市動物園 (Hamamatsushi Doubutsuen)

Sex
Female
Born
December 9, 1991
VU— Vulnerable
No.0103In memoriam

Kurumi

クルミ

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

男鹿水族館GAO (Oga Suizokukan Gao)

Sex
Female
Born
December 26, 1996
VU— Vulnerable
No.0105In memoriam

Denali

デナリ

Polar BearUrsus maritimus

札幌市円山動物園 (Sapporoshimaruyama Doubutsuen)

Sex
Male
Born
November 9, 1993
VU— Vulnerable

FAQ

Why does polar bear fur look white if the hairs are actually transparent?
Each hair is hollow and transparent; the fur appears white because it scatters visible light, similar to how snow appears white. Source
Why is climate change such a threat to polar bears?
Polar bears depend on sea ice as a platform to hunt seals. As Arctic sea ice shrinks and breaks up earlier each year, bears have less time and opportunity to hunt, threatening their survival. Source
How many polar bears are left in the wild?
The global population is estimated at roughly 22,000 to 31,000 individuals, and the IUCN classifies the species as Vulnerable. Source

Source: www.iucnredlist.org www.city.sapporo.jp tokushimazoo.jp