Page 71 - The World of Animals

The polar bear lives in the coldest regions of the
world such as the North Pole, Northern Canada and

Northern Siberia. But the feet of the polar bear never
become cold. You could hardly keep your feet or

hands on ice for more than a couple of minutes.
Surprisingly, however, the polar bear does not even feel

this cold since its feet are covered with thick fur. Allah gave it just the
right features so that it would not be affected by the cold. If it were

covered with skin similar to that of human beings, it would never
survive. Moreover, the fatty layer ten centimetres (four inches) thick

under its skin provides heat insulation. Therefore, in icy waters, it can
swim 2000 kilometres (1242 miles) at a speed of 10 to 11 kilometres

(6 to 7 miles) per hour. 69
Do you know why the colour of polar bears is white or off-white? It

is hard to notice the white polar bear among the white snow-covered
glaciers and the frozen wastes of the north that extend for thousands

of kilometres. Imagine how difficult it would be for it to hide itself if its
colour were as black as a crow or as colourful as one of the parrots

living in the tropical forests.
Polar bears' sense of smell is so keen that they can readily smell a

seal that hides under a layer of snow one and a half metre (59
inches) thick. While hunting, polar bears also employ some tactics.

Now, visualise a polar bear with its snow-white fur looking like a
snowman. Do you think anyone would notice it if it lays on the

snow? If you only considered its white fur, you might have said "yes".
But, remember that the polar bear also has a black nose. On white

snow, this nose makes perfect camouflage impossible. But the polar