Paradoxically, the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is both the world’s largest terrestrial carnivore and a marine mammal. They get their marine mammal designation because they live on water, albeit in the form of ice. Yes, that makes it a bit of a stretch to call it a marine mammal, but the polar bear is quite capable in liquid water as well. With the aid of partially webbed forepaws, the polar bear can swim 60 miles (100 km) or more out into open water. And although capable of wandering and surviving far inland it is on the ice and along the coast where the polar bear thrives, hunting seals at their breathing holes, dens, or whilst hauled out of the water. Polar bears specialize in hunting seals but will also hunt walruses, beluga whales, narwhals, seabirds, and even reindeer. Polar bears have a circumpolar distribution along the Arctic circle, inhabiting the coastlines of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia.
An exceptionally popular animal, Coca-Cola mascot, and posterchild for climate change, the polar bear has been molded in plastic countless times. There are a lot of exceptional figures for collectors to choose from but while eyeballing my burgeoning bear collection I noticed that I didn’t have an upright standing bear. That wouldn’t do, I needed at least one bear that was standing upright and that made Papo’s standing polar bear an obvious choice for my collection.
Female polar bears can reach a length of 6’ 11” (2.1 meters) and can weigh up to 660 lbs. (300 kg) while males can reach a length of 8’ 6” (2.6 meters) and can weigh up to 1,800 lbs. (800 kg). On their hindlegs a large male polar bear can stand over 10’ (3 meters) tall. The Papo polar bear stands 5.5” (13.97 cm) tall, which puts it at 1/21 in scale if scaled down from a height of 10’. The figure has a head-to-body length of 5” (12.7) and using that it comes out to be 1/16-1/20 in scale. The figure is presented as if surveying its terrain and the positioning of the head and limbs feels organic and lifelike.
All the hallmarks of the polar bear are well illustrated here, including a long neck, and flattened head with a curved muzzle and small ears. The paws are large and broad with proportionally small claws. In life these claws would be thick and curved, perfect for snaring seals. The detail work on the fur is phenomenal, with the limbs appearing appropriately shaggy and the hair following the contours of the figure’s body with a slight indication of its underlying musculature.
Black paw pads are dutifully sculpted on the forepaws and left hind paw. The right hind paw has the production information stamped onto it. I don’t really like the lack of pads on that paw but it’s also what the toy stands on, and it’s better to put that information there than on the belly or somewhere more conspicuous.
Naturally, the figure is white. In life polar bears can also be yellow or pale gray. The nose, lips, inside of the ears, eyes, claws, and paw pads are black. The muzzle is gray. Although they look white, the polar bear’s skin is actually black and the guard hairs are transparent and hollow, appearing white because they reflect light. As an aside I feel like it’s worth mentioning that the figure has a soft waxy texture, somewhat like soap.
The Papo polar bear is an exceptional figure and a new favorite in my collection. As far as bears go, it is my favorite bear that I own so far! There are a lot of great polar bear figures to choose from but as far as this one goes it is highly recommended from me! This figure is currently in production and retails for about $10.99.
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I have to ask, was if planned to post this about the same time as suspy’s standing Arctodus on DTB? 🙂
I have the walking Papo polar bear; I considered this standing one, but I got the Papo standing brown bear and didn’t want them both to be standing.
It was a happy coincidence. As you’ve probably noticed, I’m been staggering bear reviews for a couple months now. I had already planned to post this review this week before I knew Suspsy would be posting the Arctodus review.
I also only wanted one standing bear in my collection. It was almost the Safari standing black bear.
Well, polar bears don’t naturally occur along the Norwegian coast, tempered by the warm sea current of the Gulf Stream.
However, they are found on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard (located halfway between the North Cape, which is Europe’s northernmost pont, and the North Pole.
Contrary to most apex predators, which will attack Humans only if they are hungry or feel threatened, polar bears are very wary and aggressive by nature, and are considered to be among the most dangerous animals on the planet along with hippos.
If you visit Svalbard, it’s mandatory to carry a rifle (and the gun license that goes with it) when you venture out of Longyearbyen (Svalbard’s main settlement) into the wild.
It can also happen that polar bears come all the way from Greenland to Iceland drifting on ice floes. Then they get immediately shot dead by Icelandic law enforcement.