It's difficult to imagine the North Pole without also thinking of polar bears. The all-white, ursine beasts have occupied the Earth for at least 10,000 years — but, since 2008, polar bears have been listed as a threatened species (per the U.S. Endangered Species Act). Currently, there are an estimated 22,000–31,000 polar bears living in 19 distinct regions in the Arctic. To help you get a better sense of how that breaks down, illustrator Chloe Cushman has drawn a map of the world's polar bear population, broken down by habitat — depicted as two adorable polar bears. Take a look below (and, to get a better sense of where these regions are located, check out the WWF's polar bear region map here:
Illustration by Chloe Cushman.
Getting there
Looking for a chance to learn more about the world's polar bear population? Check out the Canadian Polar Bear Experience, part of our Jane Goodall Institute collection of trips. This selection of 20 of our incredible, wildlife-focused tours endorsed by world-renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall has been designed to bring you into close contact with our planet’s most fascinating creatures in a manner that respects their freedom. Let this collection of adventures introduce you to the world in ways you’ve never imagined.
