‘Grolar’ hybrid of grizzlies and polar bears remains rare in wild, study finds

A polar bear-grizzly bear hybrid seen in Alaska. The shape of this bear's neck, snout and body is a giveaway. Photograph: Steven J Kazlowski/Alamy

A family of “grolars” in Canada’s Arctic remains the only confirmed example of hybrid offspring between polar and grizzly bears, according to a new study which may provide some optimism for conservationists worried about the future of polar bears as a distinct species.

A team of North American researchers examined old bear samples collected between 1975 and 2015 using a newly developed tool to look for previously unknown examples of hybrid bears.