{"id":7836,"date":"2026-04-19T22:18:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T21:18:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/?p=7836"},"modified":"2026-04-19T22:18:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T21:18:39","slug":"this-2209-pound-polar-bear-is-the-largest-bear-ever-recorded","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/?p=7836","title":{"rendered":"This 2,209-Pound Polar Bear is the Largest Bear Ever Recorded"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The post <a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/articles\/this-2209-pound-polar-bear-is-the-largest-bear-ever-recorded\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:This 2,209-Pound Polar Bear is the Largest Bear Ever Recorded;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;This 2,209-Pound Polar Bear is the Largest Bear Ever Recorded&quot;}\" class=\"link \">This 2,209-Pound Polar Bear is the Largest Bear Ever Recorded<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com?utm_campaign=feed&amp;utm_source=rss_feed&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_content=1565122\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:A-Z Animals;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;A-Z Animals&quot;}\" class=\"link \">A-Z Animals<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Polar bears are the largest of the bear species. Thanks to their protein-rich and fat-filled diets, these unique marine bears grow to incredible sizes. While some formidable polar bears have been spotted over the years, one takes the prize as the most massive of all. A 2,209-pound polar bear is the largest bear ever recorded and, given today\u2019s climate, a record that will likely never be surpassed.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Largest Polar Bear on Record Documented Over 75 Years Ago<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It is <a href=\"https:\/\/alaskapublic.org\/2021\/08\/16\/rare-polar-bear-sighting-causes-a-stir-in-kotzebue\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:not typical to see polar bears in Kotzebue, Alaska;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;not typical to see polar bears in Kotzebue, Alaska&quot;}\" class=\"link \">not typical to see polar bears in Kotzebue, Alaska<\/a>. But in 1960, the largest polar bear ever recorded was spotted there, and no polar bear has since matched its size.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Kotzebue Sound is a waterway connected to the Chukchi Sea, which is a known hotspot for polar bears. In 1960, a polar bear of epic proportions made its way through the Sound to Kotzebue.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Largest polar bear ever recorded\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"1199\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/iBI5rZlfNmrTd0yx2Es1Pg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTExOTk7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/a_z_animals_articles_598\/bf534fcbdff68f54dbb2f679f0f29b11\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\">\n<p>Largest polar bear ever recorded stood over 11 feet tall. <\/p>\n<p class=\"copyright\">\u00a9 \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SharingAlaska\/photos\/a.277586279270384\/774698456225828\/?type=3\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Original;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Original&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Original<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">the polar bear stood 11 feet one inch tall and weighed 2,209 pounds; it was believed to be male. To put that in perspective, with an average man weighing 200 pounds, this polar bear weighed nearly as much as 12 adult men combined.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Unfortunately, because of its impressive size, the polar bear was hunted and put on display. Whether there were other polar bears of this size in the region at the time, or whether this bear was an anomaly, remains unknown.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">How Large Are Polar Bears Today?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Compared to the record-holding polar bear in Alaska, today\u2019s polar bears seem tiny. However, polar bears are not only the largest bear but also the <a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/blog\/meet-the-largest-land-carnivore\/?utm_campaign=feed&amp;utm_source=rss_feed&amp;utm_medium=in_content&amp;utm_content=1565122\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:largest carnivore on land;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;largest carnivore on land&quot;}\" class=\"link \">largest carnivore on land<\/a>, so they remain very formidable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/polarguidebook.com\/how-big-is-a-polar-bear\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:average height and weight of polar bears;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;average height and weight of polar bears&quot;}\" class=\"link \">average height and weight of polar bears<\/a> are as follows:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>Males:<\/strong> Stand between <strong>eight and 10 feet tall<\/strong> and weigh between <strong>775 pounds and 1,500 pounds<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>Females:<\/strong> Stand between <strong>six and eight feet tall<\/strong> and weigh between<strong> 330 and 550 pounds<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Beautiful adult male polar bear stands on a rocky ledge in the snow and ice of Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/ycfkFPJIIie2_1KMeXl5wg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/a_z_animals_articles_598\/467614cf03b3f6e38e99510e20ec1862\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\">\n<p>Male polar bears today are between eight and 10 feet tall, weighing up to 1,500 pounds. <\/p>\n<p class=\"copyright\">\u00a9Jane Rix\/Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">To put this in perspective, the male of the next-largest bear species, the <a href=\"https:\/\/scienceinsights.org\/how-much-do-kodiak-bears-weigh\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Kodiak bear;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Kodiak bear&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Kodiak bear<\/a>, stands between four and five feet tall. They weigh between 1,050 and 1,177 pounds. Females are substantially smaller.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Polar bears are not as large today as they once were, and they likely never will be again.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Why Polar Bears Are No Longer Massive<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Unlike other bears, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/subjects\/bears\/polar-bears.htm\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:polar bears require a diet high in protein and fat;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;polar bears require a diet high in protein and fat&quot;}\" class=\"link \">polar bears require a diet high in protein and fat<\/a> to maintain their size. Typically, they rely on seals to build and maintain their mass, but they will also eat <a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/animals\/polar-bear\/what-do-polar-bears-eat\/?utm_campaign=feed&amp;utm_source=rss_feed&amp;utm_medium=in_content&amp;utm_content=1565122\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:whale carcasses;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;whale carcasses&quot;}\" class=\"link \">whale carcasses<\/a>. Over the last several decades, the <a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/blog\/why-do-polar-bears-need-ice-to-survive\/?utm_campaign=feed&amp;utm_source=rss_feed&amp;utm_medium=in_content&amp;utm_content=1565122\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Arctic sea ice;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Arctic sea ice&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Arctic sea ice<\/a> has rapidly declined. This has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgs.gov\/publications\/polar-bear-energetic-and-behavioral-strategies-land-implications-surviving-ice-free\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:reduced the hunting grounds;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;reduced the hunting grounds&quot;}\" class=\"link \">reduced the hunting grounds<\/a>, making seals harder to hunt and requiring more energy to do so.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"A lone polar bear stands on a small ice floe in the Arctic Ocean. The image evokes themes of climate change and wildlife conservation. A powerful symbol of environmental fragility.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"671\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/SHnMKZJP26krAjpJ05qFQQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY3MTtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/a_z_animals_articles_598\/82a4afebebb06bfea29103f43308c3e8\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\">\n<p>With sea ice declining and food becoming scarce, polar bears do not have an option to grow large and survive. <\/p>\n<p class=\"copyright\">\u00a9Andrewfel\/Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">When these food sources are scarce, <a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/animals\/fish-2\/?utm_campaign=feed&amp;utm_source=rss_feed&amp;utm_medium=in_content&amp;utm_content=1565122\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:fish;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;fish&quot;}\" class=\"link \">fish<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/animals\/bird\/?utm_campaign=feed&amp;utm_source=rss_feed&amp;utm_medium=in_content&amp;utm_content=1565122\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:birds;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;birds&quot;}\" class=\"link \">birds<\/a>, and even berries become diet staples. With this shifting diet, polar bears are incapable of growing to the size of the Alaskan polar bear found in the 1960s.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">As the traditional polar bear diet continues to shift to more land-based items, there simply are not enough calories to sustain larger bears. As a result, the era of massive polar bears is over.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Polar Bears May Be Extinct by the End of the Century<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/biologyinsights.com\/how-long-have-polar-bears-been-around\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:timeline for when polar bears diverged from brown bears;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;timeline for when polar bears diverged from brown bears&quot;}\" class=\"link \">timeline for when polar bears diverged from brown bears<\/a> is the subject of debate. Some researchers believe the split occurred as recently as 150,000 years ago, while others estimate it was closer to one million years ago. What is agreed upon is that, in geological terms, polar bears are a relatively young species.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Unfortunately, the future of these bears <a href=\"https:\/\/iere.org\/can-polar-bears-survive-climate-change\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:does not look bright;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;does not look bright&quot;}\" class=\"link \">does not look bright<\/a>. It is estimated that by 2050, two-thirds of the polar bear population will be gone. By the end of the century, these animals will likely be extinct due to the decline in Arctic sea ice caused by <a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/articles\/how-climate-change-is-transforming-wildlife-habitats-worldwide\/?utm_campaign=feed&amp;utm_source=rss_feed&amp;utm_medium=in_content&amp;utm_content=1565122\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:climate change;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;climate change&quot;}\" class=\"link \">climate change<\/a>. When there is not enough sea ice for polar bears to hunt seals effectively, they lose significant body fat and eventually starve.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) resting on floating sea ice off the northeast coast of Greenland.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"663\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/zzg9ZmeP9eBN25GNHNmUmA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY2MztjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/a_z_animals_articles_598\/bccaed5604e21bf8b4f06853fe06f2ab\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\">\n<p>The possibility of polar bears going extinct by the end of the century is very real. <\/p>\n<p class=\"copyright\">\u00a9Steve Allen\/Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A December 2025 <a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s13100-025-00387-4\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:study;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;study&quot;}\" class=\"link \">study<\/a> found that some Greenland polar bears were adapting to warmer temperatures by consuming more plant-based foods. However, it is unclear whether this will be sustainable in the long term. As food sources continue to be depleted and shift toward lower-calorie options, it is possible that polar bear stature will continue to decline until they are no longer the largest bear species, making the 1960s specimen all the more remarkable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The post <a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/articles\/this-2209-pound-polar-bear-is-the-largest-bear-ever-recorded\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:This 2,209-Pound Polar Bear is the Largest Bear Ever Recorded;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;This 2,209-Pound Polar Bear is the Largest Bear Ever Recorded&quot;}\" class=\"link \">This 2,209-Pound Polar Bear is the Largest Bear Ever Recorded<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com?utm_campaign=feed&amp;utm_source=rss_feed&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_content=1565122\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:A-Z Animals;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;A-Z Animals&quot;}\" class=\"link \">A-Z Animals<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The post This 2,209-Pound Polar Bear is the Largest Bear Ever Recorded appeared first on A-Z Animals. Polar bears are the largest of the bear species. Thanks to their protein-rich and fat-filled diets, these unique marine bears grow to incredible sizes. While some formidable polar bears have been spotted over the years, one takes the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7837,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[175,55,293,10794,323,388,10798,1184,269,10799,1711,10797,1715,564,10795,2669,67,66,7481,7485,45,2451,10793,1182,1100,10796,3210,2496,212,1192,553,2275,3094,1589,7926,478],"class_list":["post-7836","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pets-news","tag-animals","tag-appeared","tag-bear","tag-bear-largest","tag-bears","tag-diet","tag-extinct","tag-feet","tag-food","tag-formidable","tag-grow","tag-kotzebue","tag-large","tag-largest","tag-largest-recorded","tag-massive","tag-pe-ts-fun","tag-pets-news","tag-polar","tag-polar-bear","tag-post","tag-pound","tag-pound-polar","tag-pounds","tag-protein","tag-record","tag-recorded","tag-seals","tag-shutterstock","tag-size","tag-species","tag-spotted","tag-tall","tag-today","tag-weigh","tag-years"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7836","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7836"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7836\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7836"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7836"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}