The Polar Change

Our nature photographer Jessica Moses has been capturing photos of the polar bears at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster, South Yorkshire

The polar bear is a carnivorous mammal that is native to the Arctic regions of the world. They are the largest land predator on Earth and are well adapted to living in the harsh Arctic environment due to their thick layer of blubber and fur. Their large paws are specially adapted for swimming, which they’ll use to paddle through the water while holding their hind legs flat like a rudder.


Polar bears are officially vulnerable species and are listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. The primary threat to polar bears is climate change, which is causing the Arctic sea ice to melt at an alarming rate.


Even though polar bears are excellent swimmers, they are now forced to swim longer distances than they are used to for food and suitable habitats. This can be dangerous for them and will eventually cause exhaustion and drowning. Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt for their main prey, seals, and as the ice melts, their hunting grounds disappear.


This leads to a decline in their population, as they struggle to find enough food to survive. Other threats to polar bears include hunting, pollution, and habitat destruction. Conservation efforts are underway to protect polar bears and their habitat, such as The Yorkshire Wildlife Park.