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Welcome to the CPZ Polar Circle and the Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) exhibit, where you will

Heather Vlach Gus relaxing from his hectic schedule at the Central Park Zoo.

find Gus (male) and Ida (female). Both were born in 1985 and neither Polar bear has ever known the wild, where they would grow to about twice their present size. In the Arctic, a Polar bear’s natural habitat, a male Polar bear could weigh up to 1500 lbs. This is due to his fat, or blubber, which may be 5 inches thick. Here at the CPZ, however, Gus weighs just about 1000 lbs. Ida is smaller, as female Polar bears tend to be, and tips the scales at a svelte 700 lbs.

Habitat : The Greek word Arktos, meaning “bear”, is the origin of the Arctic name. That is an easy way to remember that Polar bears live in the Arctic, or North Pole. There are five “Polar bear nations”: U. S. (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Denmark (Greenland), and Norway. Alternatively, Antarctica means “no bears”, so if you’ve ever seen a commercial with a Polar bear and a penguin together, it just isn’t true, they live on opposite ends of the earth.

Staying Warm : A polar bear’s body temperature is 98.6 degrees F, just like us. But Polar bears are specifically adapted for the cold weather. In the Arctic, temperatures can reach as low as -50 degrees F. Polar bears have very thick blubber, which helps to insulate their bodies against the cold. Also Gus and Ida have small ears, a short snout, and tails close to their bodies. This also helps them stay warm by keeping everything close together. Another amazing thing about Polar bears is that they actually have black skin. A Polar bear’s fur is actually hollow and it focuses sunlight down to the dark skin which retains the heat. The reason a Polar bear’s fur looks white is because of the way the light reflects on the hair shaft. This fur is also water repellent, and helps keep the bear warm even when swimming in freezing water. Of all the bear species, the Polar bear is the only one to be considered a marine mammal.

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