Today is International Polar Bear Day, so join us in paying tribute to our favourite large, white and furry Arctic carnivores.
We begin our journey with the original polar bear superstar, who captivated the hearts of the world during his all-too-short life in Berlin Zoo. He rose to stardom in 2007 as a cuddly cub, appearing on magazine covers, in a film and on mountains of merchandise. He died in 2011 after suffering from encephalitis.
Here's Knut making his first public appearance in 2007:
During which he had a good old roll in the sand:
Liked that? You'll love this adorable clip of Knut taking his first steps:
Here he is all grown up in 2009:
And here he is now. Stuffed and on display in a Berlin museum.
The museum has dismissed criticism of the decision to display Knut, saying it gives everyone an opportunity to see him, but we think it's an ignominious end for an animal icon.
Is that…
? thought the world in unison, when Clarence first appeared on our screens in 2010.And yes. Yes it is Willem Dafoe, star of films such as Platoon, the Last Temptation of Christ and Spiderman.
And would appreciate it if you'd just leave him alone while he's thinking.
Not. A. Care. In. The. World.
Also known as
, from the classic His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman.Because the only things better than polar bears are polar bears that can talk and will take you on epic adventures.
Bears can play pretend, too.
What's not to like?
How YOU doin'?
This is Pelusa, a bear in an Argentinian zoo who turned violet after veterinarians administered a drug to treat a skin infection. She turned back to her normal colour soon after.
If you're not going to take things seriously, then we are all just wasting our time.
Luckily, there's a warm place to sit.
Because this is where we want to see polar bears, not in zoos.
What? Speak up!
Polar bears: Doing things before they were even things.
"OMG that feels so good! I could totally just fall asleep right here…"
He's called Peppy and he's been around since
.
"Dude! It's been, like… how long?"
"I know!"