The Washington Post on Instagram: "When scientists in Canada came across a female polar bear with two cubs in the fall, they made an unusual discovery: One of the young was not her own offspring but instead a rare documented example of an adopted cub. The mother, who is believed to be around five years old, was seen with one cub this spring, according to Polar Bears International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to polar bear conservation. But when scientists caught up with her again in the f

Explaining Nature on Instagram: "The polar bear is far bigger than most people realize. Adult males can stand nearly 3 meters tall and weigh up to 700 kg, yet they glide over fragile sea ice with incredible balance. Their massive paws spread their weight like natural snowshoes, while sharp claws grip the ice like climbing tools, keeping them steady in extreme conditions. Habitat: They dominate the frozen edges of the Arctic — Greenland, Canada, Alaska, and Russia. Sea ice isn’t just where they h