Polar Bear Life Span

the mother and her cubs

• Polar bears can live 20 to 30 years, but only a small percentage of polar bears live past 15 to 18 years.
• The oldest known polar bear in the Arctic lived 32 years. 
• The oldest known polar bear in a zoological park lived 45 years
• A polar bear can bear about 2-3 cubs at a time, who live with their mothers for about 2 ½ years, after which they go out to fend for themselves

Social Behavior 

Tackling each other

The most constant social interaction occurs between mother and cubs. Polar bear mothers are attentive, frequently touching and grooming their cubs.

Polar bear breeding pairs remain together for one week or more, mating several times.

Aggression occurs between males during the breeding season and when males attempt to steal food caught by other polar bears.

Play fighting has been observed between aggregating sub adult and adult male polar bears.

Young polar bear cubs chase and tackle their siblings.