Endangered Beauties: Images of Polar Bears: Page 3

Polar Bears Evolved Just 150,000 Years Ago

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

Here two polar bear cubs snuggle up. The polar bears, which evolved from brown bears, originated some 150,000 years ago, according to genetic analyses of a polar bear fossil.

Goose Eggs Could Save Polar Bears

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

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.