Rare facts about polar bears. Ten unusual facts about polar bears. What does a polar bear eat

Guzel Abdullina
Summary of the lesson on ecology "What do we know about the polar bear" (senior group)

Prepared: caregiver senior group MBDOU No. 22 Abdullina Guzel Inkarovna, Leninogorsk, RT.

Target:

Give children knowledge about polar bear: appearance, lifestyle, habits and methods of hunting in winter and summer.

To form ideas about the way of life of animals at the North Pole, about adaptation to the environment.

Develop the ability to search.

Continue to introduce children to whites bears ability to adapt to the environment.

Activate speech through games and exercises.

To form an interested, caring attitude towards whites bears.

vocabulary work: vocabulary enrichment words: "Arctic", "predator"; activation dictionary: "booty", "wool","paws", "den", "seal", "seal".

preliminary work:

Reading and looking at illustrations about whites bears in a life magazine wildlife; watching a cartoon "Umka"; listening to audio recordings "Lullaby bears» (from the cartoon "Umka"): examining paintings depicting white bears; white stencil drawing bears.

Materials for lessons: multimedia; the globe; animal illustrations (brown and white bears) ; notebook; a pen; the envelope.

Lesson progress:

(Children play in the play corners, knock on the door. The teacher goes to faith and brings an envelope in his hands.)

Guys, look here, we received a letter, let's look in the envelope, what's inside.

(takes out a letter and a card with a riddle)

They sent us a letter, but in order to find out from whom it is, we must guess riddle:

Sailing on the blue sea

On a huge ice

Strong, predatory beast

in a fur coat snow-white.

Who do you think it is? (children's answers)

Well done, right. Well, let's read the letter. (opens letter)

"Hello children! White writes to you bear. I want to tell you about myself, about whites bears. In the north, in the Arctic, where there is only snow and ice, we live, white the Bears. Our habits are similar to the habits of brown bears: we winter in a lair of ice and snow, we love to swim and fish. Bear He feeds our babies with milk at first, and when they grow up he feeds them with fish and seal meat.

We are adapted to life in difficult conditions: we have thick, warm wool, including on the soles of our paws - it saves us from frost, the white camouflage color of the wool makes us invisible in the snow, we can dive and swim well, hide, quietly sneak up on prey, we have strong paws with sharp claws, claws help us quickly and deftly catch fish in the water, and we have strong teeth. I want to add, we whites the Bears are included in the Red Book.

We would like to make friends with you, we are waiting for a response letter from you. Sincerely, white bear.»

Here is the letter we received. Let's find the Arctic on the globe. Where is he located - let's eat.

(search together and find)

This is where the Arctic is! In the Arctic, there is snow and ice all around, so it is marked in white on the globe.

Now let's look at the illustrations. bears: white and brown. See how they are similar and how they differ. (children's answers)

Where does he live? (children's answers)

What saves him from the cold? (children's answers)

Can he swim? (children's answers)

How does he get his food? (children's answers)

What helps him hunt? (children's answers)

What feeds bear cub? (children's answers)

Yes, that's right, she feeds the baby with milk, then when she grows up with fish and seal meat. The meat of the seal is called tyulenina. Bears hunt them too.

Now let's play a game « bear cubs»

bear cubs in more often lived they run and turn their heads

They turned their heads.

Like this (2 times) They turned their heads.

Bear cubs looking for honey. Perform movements for

The tutor shook the tree together. (Looking for honey and

Like this (2 times)- They shook the tree together. trees sway.)

Bear cubs drinking water(Imitation movements)

Friend after friend went. drink some water and follow each other

Like this (2 times)- friend.

Everyone followed each other.

The cubs were dancing(Imitation movements)

The paws were lifted up, stamped in place and

Like this (2 times)- Raise the paws up. raise their hands up.

Well done, well played!

And now, let's write a letter back to the whites bears.

Address: Arctic, Country eternal ice and snow, a large snowdrift.

To whom: polar bear.

hello dear white bear!

We have received your letter. Thank you, thanks to you we found out who the whites are where do bears live.

Come visit us from the distant Arctic! We will treat you delicious fish. Are looking forward to!

If you cannot come to us, then we are waiting for a letter from you.

Respect for whites bears children of the senior group kindergarten No. 22 Leninogorsk, RT.

Now, let's seal the envelope and it remains only to send the letter. In the evening we will go home, put it in the mailbox and wait for an answer.

And on classes drawing we will draw white bears with a sponge, foam rubber. We will arrange an exhibition “The Arctic, a distant land of eternal ice”.

The polar bear is one of the largest predators on the planet and a real mystery of nature. We will tell you when he appeared, why he is white, and why he is considered a marine mammal.

origin mystery

The origin of polar bears is still a mystery to scientists. It was previously believed that polar bears separated from brown ones about 45 thousand years ago, somewhere on the shores of Ireland. The proximity of the species was confirmed, including the possibility of the appearance of fertile offspring as a result of crossing, which rarely happens if the parents are “distant relatives”. In 2011, scientists, based on genetic studies, pushed back the date of the appearance of the polar bear by a hundred thousand years ago. Then zoologists, led by Frank Heiler, reported that the ancestor of polar bears was a certain brown bear who lived about 150 thousand years ago in the late Pleistocene. Moreover, according to the results of the study, the species was formed quite quickly, which was explained by another cold snap and the need to survive in arctic conditions. But a year later, a group of researchers from the German Research Center for Biodiversity and Climate (BiK-F) refuted all previous versions. After analyzing the nuclear DNA of 45 not only polar bears, but also brown and black bears (baribals), they found that brown and polar bears once separated from a common ancestor Ursus etruscus. So, the polar bear is not a “modification” of the brown one, but its sibling. According to this theory, polar bear appeared 600 thousand years ago, which means it emerged victorious from several ice and inter-ice periods. True, this version also has many opponents, and the question of the origin of polar bears is still open.

Hibernation is not a habit

Polar bears, unlike their brown counterparts, do not hibernate. In winter they sleep more than in summer, but still it is not hibernation. During the latter, the vital activity of the body practically stops: the heart beats weakly, the body temperature decreases. In polar bears, breathing and temperature remain normal, no matter how long he sleeps. In good weather, they often leave the den to hunt seals on the ice, an inaccessible prey in warm seasons. The situation is different with pregnant females. The polar bear cubs that appear in the middle of winter are no bigger than humans at birth and will not survive the Arctic winter. Therefore, the female lies in the den when the ice melts and it becomes difficult to hunt. Bear cubs are usually born in November-January, and remain in the den until February-March. Males and single females go into hibernation for a short time and not every year.

Bear Prison

The main enemy of the polar bear is man. But even for our “kind”, a meeting with the largest mammalian predator on earth often ends in tragedy. In recent decades, polar bears have become frequent visitors to cities beyond the Arctic Circle. They are attracted to "easy prey" - garbage, pets. So, in the vicinity of the Canadian city of Churchill, up to 1000 individuals can roam in the summer. Previously, animals were shot, today the death penalty was replaced by imprisonment - a prison was built on the site of a former military base for violators of the order. The term of imprisonment usually ranges from two to 30 days, however, in the case of repeated catching of the same bear, the term is increased. The prison diet is quite strict - the animals are given only water. The essence of the method is to develop a sense of fear in animals when approaching the city. The “criminals” are released closer to winter, when ice appears on the waters of Hudson Bay, and with it, hunting is simplified.

marine mammals
The scientific name of the polar bear is Ursus maritimus, which means "sea bear". Polar bears are excellent swimmers, they can swim hundreds of kilometers without stopping at an average speed of 10 km / h, which is much faster than their slow and measured step on land. The polar bear's record swim was recorded in 2011, when a polar bear covered 687 kilometers in search of food in 9 days without stopping. These animals spend so much time in the water that in some classifications they are classified as marine mammals, along with whales, seals and otters.

White color - salvation from the cold

Studying the life of polar bears, one involuntarily sympathizes with them - how can one live in such conditions, where the temperature can drop to -70 degrees. However, polar bears themselves usually have problems not with freezing, but with overheating. Especially while running. And all this is due to the physiological characteristics of the bear, which are responsible for maintaining heat. One of the main secrets of polar clubfoot is white color. It's all about one of the main methods of heat transfer - infrared radiation, which is scattered between numerous layers of fluff or fur of light colors and slows down cooling. According to the researchers, such blocking of thermal transfer, which was formed in the process of evolution in the inhabitants of the polar regions, provides effective thermal insulation. That is why polar bears are white - so warmer.

At risk

Polar bears are now an endangered species. And it's not even about poachers, but about climate change. According to Canadian biologist Ian Sterling, "The ice drift in Hudson Bay begins about two weeks earlier than it did twenty years ago." This deprives bears of the opportunity to gain the necessary fat reserves before the warm months, when all hunting comes to naught. The main prey of polar bears is seals and their cubs, which they usually get from under the ice, when the victim swims up to the hole, to "sip" oxygen. In open water, clubfoot has no chance. Therefore, along with warming and melting of glaciers, the population of polar bears also decreases. According to researchers, since 1980 the birth rate and average weight of these animals decreased by about ten percent. In search of food, they have to overcome ever greater and greater distances. For example, the above-mentioned nine-day record swim of a she-bear, 687 kilometers long, was caused precisely by the need to find food for her and her one-year-old cub. The last such exhausting voyage was beyond their strength. According to preliminary forecasts, if the ice cover continues to shrink at the same rate, by the end of the century, polar bears will repeat the fate of their extinct relatives.

Polar bears are adorable animals. They are not only the largest predators on earth, but also one of the most mysterious. The researchers believe that polar bears may be as smart as monkeys, as they seem to be able to change their behavior depending on the climate and.

Here are 10 fun facts about polar bears.

1. Despite the fact that the photo shows polar bears white color actually they are not white. Polar bear hair is actually transparent, with a thick, hollow core that reflects light. When light is reflected from the wool into the air between the hairs, we see white, which is a reflection of all the colors combined. This feature of polar bear hair has a dual purpose: first, it helps them blend better with environment, and secondly, it kind of insulates them from the snow.

2. Polar bears are excellent swimmers. They spend so much time in the water that some scientists tend to classify them as marine mammals. Their front paws have webbed toes, forming a kind of oar, which allows them to swim up to 100 kilometers in one sitting. Webbed fingers, along with hard claws, are also essential in preventing slipping on ice.

3. Polar bears are incredibly clean. After eating, they will spend 15-20 minutes grooming themselves until they are sure that there are no dirt or food leftovers that could degrade the insulating properties of the fur.

4. They don't hibernate. Pregnant bears sit in dens and become less active, but in spite of everything they continue to hunt and eat all winter. During a period of severe cold, their body temperature drops to 0C 0. Usually, their body temperature does not fall below 31C 0.

5. In nature, the only natural enemy of the polar bear is man.

6. The thermal insulation properties of fat and thick wool complement each other very well, so polar bears can overheat quickly, even at low temperatures. To avoid this, bears tend to walk slowly, avoid fast running, and spend many hours resting.

7. There is a very big difference in size and weight between female and male polar bears. While males can reach 700 kilograms in weight and 3.5 meters in length, females rarely exceed 500 kilograms and average 2.5 feet in length.

8. Polar bears are very emotional. Biologists have observed frustrated polar bears after throwing pieces of ice at them instead of treats. After losing a fight, the losing bear scoops up piles of snow with his feet or growls for a long time from resentment.

9. Polar bears will slide down slopes or crawl on their belly if thin and there is a risk of falling through the ice.

10. The main diet of polar bears consists of fish and sometimes birds. When hunting, polar bears burn a huge amount of calories.

These polar bears are amazing animals. They embody beauty and power, mystery and danger. These are the largest land predators, and, according to scientists, one of the most intelligent mammals. Let's get to know them better.

Fact number 1.

Despite what you see in the photos, polar bears are not white at all. Their coat is colorless, as the hairs are hollow and transparent. They reflect light and appear white.

Fact number 2.

Polar bears do not hibernate. Pregnant females or mother bears remain in the dens and reduce their activity, while the males continue to hunt throughout the winter.

Fact number 3.

There is a big difference between the weight and size of male and female bears. The weight of males can reach 680 kilograms, and their length is three meters. While the weight of females rarely reaches 270 kilograms, and the length is two meters.

Fact number 4.

Newborn polar bear cubs are much smaller than newborn human babies. Newly born bears do not exceed the size of a rat. Their weight is about 450 grams.

Fact number 5.

Although temperatures in the Arctic can drop as low as -45°C, polar bears usually have problems with overheating rather than freezing. Especially while running. And all this is due to the physiological characteristics of the bear, which are responsible for maintaining heat. Therefore, bears prefer to move slowly and measuredly.

Fact number 6.

Polar bears are excellent swimmers. Thanks to the structure of their paws, they swim gracefully and rather quickly. average speed is 10 km/h. And it will not be difficult for bears to swim 161 kilometers without stopping. By the way, they spend so much time in the water that some scientists classify these animals as marine mammals.

Fact number 7.

Polar bears have an excellent sense of smell. They can smell a seal at a distance of 32 kilometers.

Fact number 8.

When bears roll up to sleep, they cover their noses with their paws to keep warm.

Fact number 9.

Polar bears are big cleaners. After eating, they spend about 20 minutes cleaning themselves. They need to make sure that there are no food residues left in the wool, which can reduce its thermal insulation properties.

Fact number 10.

Polar bears are known to be subject to temper tantrums. More than once, the bear has been seen throwing huge pieces of ice around and growling loudly in despair after a failed attempt to grab its prey.

The only living creatures that threaten bears are humans.

1. The biggest bear. As the largest land predator, the polar bear can weigh up to 700 kg and reach three meters in length. The same size can only be brown bears of the Kodiak subspecies that live on the island of the same name. 2. Record swim. The polar bear is able to swim 687 km without a break to rest. A bear made such a record swim for polar bears in 9 days in the Beaufort Sea. The reason for this forced record was climate change on Earth. As you know, polar bears throughout their lives swim from drifting to fast ice in search of prey and resting places. But as sea ice melts rapidly due to rising temperatures, polar bears have to cover ever greater distances, risking the health and lives of their cubs. With the help of a GPS collar, researchers who studied this bear for two months were able to follow her throughout her “journey”. When the female finally reached the ice, it turned out that she had lost 20% of her weight (about 48 kg) and her one-year-old bear cub, for whom this swim was unbearable. 3. Excellent scent. The polar bear has a very good sense of smell. So, he can detect prey located at a distance of 1.6 km from him or under a layer of snow about one meter thick. Most often, ringed seals and bearded seals become its prey. 4. Proper nutrition. Adult bears usually feed on the high-calorie skin and subcutaneous fat of seals, and young individuals on red meat, rich in protein. 5. Curious beast. Being curious animals, polar bears often explore landfills and sample garbage. They consume almost everything they can find there, including hazardous substances. For example, plastic, hydraulic fluid and engine oil. Interestingly, the landfill in the city of Churchill in the Canadian province of Manitoba was closed in 2006 precisely because of the polar bears, or rather, in order to protect them from the consumption of harmful "food". Waste previously dumped at this landfill is now being recycled or taken to the city of Thompson. 6. Attacks on people. Well-fed polar bears rarely attack people. This only happens if the animal is angered. Among the cases of a polar bear attacking a person, the incident with Japanese photographer Michio Hoshino is well known. During his expedition to northern Alaska, he met a hungry polar bear. The latter chased after the man, but Hoshino managed to get to his car. Before the photographer left, the bear was able to tear off one of the doors of his car. Subsequently, Michio Hoshino was killed brown bear when he was on a business trip in Russia. 7. Polar bear games. Adult polar bears lead a solitary lifestyle. However, there are many cases when these animals were seen playing with each other and even sleeping "in an embrace." Polar bear researcher Nikita Ovsyanikov argues that between adult male polar bears there may be friendly relations. In turn, the games of young individuals serve as a practice for them before the competitive struggle during the mating season. 8. Polar bear and dog. In 1992, near the town of Churchill, a series of photographs were taken of a polar bear playing with a Canadian Eskimo dog about a tenth the size of the bear. The pair played every day for ten consecutive days. Moreover, neither the bear nor the dog received any injuries during these games. According to scientists, the bear may have been trying to show friendliness to the dog, hoping to be able to feed with it. However, this behavior is not typical for a polar bear. Usually these animals behave aggressively towards dogs. 9. "Hibernation" of the polar bear. In autumn, when there is little ice, all pregnant female polar bears dig a shelter in snowdrifts with a narrow tunnel that leads to 1-3 chambers. When the den is built, the female falls into a hibernation-like state there. It is not uninterrupted sleep, however, the bear's heart rate slows down to 46 - 27 beats per minute. The bear's body temperature does not decrease during this period, as it would with any other hibernating mammal. From about November to February, cubs are born and stay in the shelter with their mother until about mid-February or April. 10 Predator Rescue Concerns about the survival of the species have led to restrictions on hunting polar bears in different countries back in the mid 1950s. So, for example, the USSR banned the hunting of polar bears in 1956, Canada began to introduce hunting quotas in 1968, Norway adopted a series of strict restrictions from 1965 to 1973, and then completely banned the hunting of these animals. And in 1973, five countries, including Canada, Denmark, Norway, the USSR and the USA, signed the International Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears. The countries agreed to impose a number of restrictions on the hunting of polar bears and conduct further research on them. In Russia today, poaching is a serious threat to the population of these animals. Hoping to eliminate the problem, the Russian government introduced a ban on hunting this animal in 2007. Only local residents of Chukotka can hunt polar bears using traditional methods. 11. How many are left? Estimated International Union conservation, the global population of the polar bear is from 20 to 25 thousand individuals, and its numbers are gradually decreasing. The US Geological Survey predicts that two-thirds of the world's polar bear population will disappear by 2050, mainly due to area reduction. sea ​​ice caused by climate change.