Endangered Beauties: Images of Polar Bears

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Polar Bears Evolved Just 150,000 Years Ago

(Image credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.)

Goose Eggs Could Save Polar Bears

(Image credit: NOAA)

Polar bears hunt seals from the ice. When their icy habitat melts, the bears are forced to swim more, move north or retreat to land.

Knut at the zoo

Knut at the zoo

(Image credit: © Markwaters | Dreamstime.com)

Even though Knut's fur looks white, his hair is really made of clear, hollow tubes filled with air.

Fluff-ball Knut

Knut at berlin zoo

(Image credit: © Markwaters | Dreamstime.com)

Knut weighed just 1.8 pounds (810 grams) at birth, but by age 2 he weighed some 440 pounds (200 kilograms). Here Knut is just a few months old.

Knut's Debut

knut polar bear at zoo

(Image credit: © Markwaters | Dreamstime.com)

Knut made his first pubilc appearance at the Berlin Zoo in March 2007. He was born in captivity on Dec. 5, 2006.

Knut with zookeeper

knut polar bear

(Image credit: © Markwaters | Dreamstime.com)

Polar bear Knut with his zookeeper Thomas Doerflein (who had died in 2008) on the day of the first public appearance of the little bear in March 2007.

Jennifer Welsh
Jennifer Welsh

Jennifer Welsh is a Connecticut-based science writer and editor and a regular contributor to Live Science. She also has several years of bench work in cancer research and anti-viral drug discovery under her belt. She has previously written for Science News, VerywellHealth, The Scientist, Discover Magazine, WIRED Science, and Business Insider.