| Endangered Species: Polar Bear |
A Christiansburg Elementary Project
Submitted by John at Christiansburg Elementary School
Christiansburg, VA, U.S.A.
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| Polar Bear
Photographer Unknown |
Why Study This Topic?
I picked the Polar Bear to research. I think Polar
Bears are cool, because they are aquatic, and live on land. I would also
like to learn what kids like me can do to save the Polar Bear from extinction.
What Was Already Known
I knew the Polar Bear are on the endangered species
list. I knew Polar Bears half to live in a cold climate. I knew Polar Bears
don't just live in the Arctic they live in North America also. I knew they
are aquatic and also live on land. I got encouragement from my teacher
and parents.
Search for Information
I first searched on the Internet, there was some good
information, but some sites didn't have anything. I mostly found the same
info on every site. On the Sea World, site I found a lot of info I didn't
have. Next, I looked in books from our town library. Half of the library
books didn't have any info but they were worth looking through.
My next source was from an online friend I have
-- he told me a lot about the Polar Bear. But right as I was going to ask
my mating call question, my computer froze. When I got my computer back
up, he had left.
Description of Plant or Animal
The Polar Bear has white or cream colored fur, a black
nose, small ears, black beady eyes, and black lips. I think the Polar Bear
looks like it's cousin: the Black Bear. Except the Black Bear has a different
color fur. The Polar Bear can weigh between 925 and 1,100 lbs. They are
about four feet or 120 cm tall.
Habitat Requirements
Polar Bears need an average of 4.4 pounds of fat to
survive just one day. A ringed seal that weighs 121 pounds could provide
a Polar Bear for eight days. Although a Polar Bear fishes in salt water,
he can't drink it, he\she can only drink freash water. The Polar Bear digs
holes in banks to live in. Their body heat helps keep them warm. The Polar
Bear doesn't have a certain amount of land to live on except its home.
The Polar Bear eats fish, berries, birds, bird eggs, small mammals, dead
animals, (including whales), shellfish, crabs, starfish, mushrooms, grasses,
and algae.
Adaptations
I think the only ememies the Polar Bear has are animals
that try to hert there young they don't like humans very much. The Polar
Bear camouflages itself with its white fur so that it is easier to sneek
up on its prey. The Polar Bear has long white fur, little ears, and its
feet are a little rounder than the Grizzly Bear.
Reasons for Endangerment
One of the most common reasons the Polar Bear is endangered
is because people are destroying the Polar Bear's habitat. People are aware
of what happens to the animals that live in that habitat, but do not care
if that animal becomes extinct. I think there should be a law that if there
are less than 1,000 animals of the same spieces in one area, there could
be no construction.
I don't know how many Polar Bears are alive today
but there must be too few, to put them on the endangered spieces list.
I hope they don't become extinct.
Restoration Actions
There is a law that says that Polar Bears can't be
killed in the United States. I'm not sure about other countries. I think
Polar Bear's could only be eaten if they died naturally and only if you
used everything -- even the bones.
What Was Learned
I learned all the foods the Polar Bear eats. I learned
that the Polar Bear needs to have 4.4 pounds of fat to live just one day.I
learned alot of other things it would tack along time to name them all.
Conclusions From Research
I think the benefits of doing this project arethat
I ended up with more knowledge of the Polar Bear, better research skills,
and learning about the human responsibility to keep this animal alive.
I loved doing this project.
Bibliography
The New Book of Knowledge (1981) Grolier Incorporated, page
http://www.teelfamily.com/activities/polarbear
Click
here for more information on the Polar Bear!
Return to Mammals page.
If you would like to add to these Endangered Species
pages then email your contributions to Christiansburg
Elementary
© copyright 1997
Christiansburg Elementary |
Last updated on March 12, 1997
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