The polar bear is a large bear native to the Arctic and nearby areas. Closely related to the brown bear, the polar bear is the largest extant species of bear and land carnivore, with adult males weighing 300 to 800 kg (700 to 1,800 lb). It has white or yellowish fur with black skin and a thick layer of fat. Polar bears live both on land and on sea ice, and usually live solitarily. They mainly prey on seals, especially ringed seals. Male bears guard females during the breeding season and defend them from rivals. Mothers give birth to cubs in maternity dens during the winter. The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers polar bears a vulnerable species. Their biggest threat is climate change as global warming has led to a decline in sea ice in the Arctic. They have been hunted for their coats, meat and other items. They have been kept in captivity and have played important roles in culture.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bear

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1814:

Peninsular War: In the south of France, Spanish, British and Portuguese soldiers under the command of Arthur Wellesley defeated French soldiers in the Battle of Orthez, causing the French to retreat east. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Orthez

1972:

The Sunday People revealed that James Humphreys, a notorious pornographer, had bribed a senior London police officer with a holiday to Cyprus and Beirut. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Humphreys_%28pornographer%29

1988:

The Armenian community of Sumgait in Azerbaijan was the target of a violent pogrom. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumgait_pogrom

1996:

The multimedia franchise Pokémon was launched with the release of the video games Pocket Monsters Red and Green. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Red,_Blue,_and_Yellow

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

take the shilling: 1. (Britain, military, historical) To enlist as a soldier in the British army or navy by accepting a shilling from a recruiting officer. 2. (by extension) 3. (military, dated) To enlist as a soldier of any military force; to join the armed forces. 4. (generally) To be on the payroll of an organization; to work for an organization. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/take_the_shilling

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Men do change, and change comes like a little wind that ruffles the curtains at dawn, and it comes like the stealthy perfume of wildflowers hidden in the grass.   --John Steinbeck https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Steinbeck