Polar animals are true survivors. Imagine living in some of the coldest places on Earth. Brrr!
The Arctic lies around the North Pole. It is home to the polar bear—a magnificent animal that may look cuddly from a distance, but is actually a powerful hunter.
Its thick fur and layer of body fat help it stay warm in the freezing climate. Polar bears spend much of their lives on sea ice, where they mainly hunt seals. The Arctic is their home, their hunting ground and sometimes even their icy highway.
Narwhals also live in Arctic waters. They are sometimes called the unicorns of the sea because many males have one long, spiralled tusk.
But here is the surprising part: the tusk is actually an enormous tooth! Yes, you heard that correctly—a tooth growing straight out of the head. Now that is one impressive smile.
The Arctic is also home to animals such as walruses, Arctic hares, Arctic foxes and several kinds of seals. Some seals depend on the sea ice for resting, raising their pups and staying safe from predators.
Far away, around the South Pole, lies Antarctica.
This is where Pennu and his family live. Pennu is an emperor penguin, and emperor penguins are the largest penguins alive today. They are flightless birds, but beneath the waves they move with such grace that they almost seem to fly through the water.
Emperor penguins breed during the harsh Antarctic winter—one of the coldest and windiest seasons on Earth. The male carefully balances the egg on his feet and keeps it warm beneath a fold of skin while the female returns to the sea to feed.
Imagine standing in the freezing wind while balancing an egg on your toes. No dropping allowed!
Antarctica is also home to several kinds of seals, including the leopard seal. Leopard seals are strong hunters that eat fish, squid, krill and penguins. They may look relaxed while resting on the ice, but beneath the water they are fast and skilled swimmers.
Tiny Antarctic krill may not look as impressive as a whale or a penguin, but they are extremely important. Many Antarctic animals—including penguins, seals, fish and whales—depend on krill directly or indirectly for food.
Small creature, enormous job!
From polar bears walking across Arctic ice to emperor penguins huddling through an Antarctic winter, polar animals have incredible ways of surviving the cold.
They prove that even the chilliest places on Earth can be full of life, adventure and wonder.