Animal swim stats

Are animals faster swimmers than you?

Umbra, a formerly stray dog, swam a mile in 28.5 minutes and completed a Masters lake swim in Chicago of 3.1 miles in 77 minutes.

Olympic swimmers have been clocked at top speeds of just over 4 mph. Tuna can hit 62 mph. They can swim at 9 mph for an indefinite time.

Elephants can swim 20 miles or more per day. They use their trunks as snorkles

According to the SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Animal Information Database

Dolphins swim at 40 knots and up (about 45 miles per hour).

Generally sharks swim at speeds less than 5 kph (about 3 mph). For the most part, bottom-dwelling sharks are slow-swimming. Makos are among the fastest sharks, reaching speeds up to 48 kph (30 mph).

"Polar bears are strong swimmers; they swim across bays or wide leads without hesitation. They can swim for several hours at a time over long distances. They've been tracked swimming continuously for 100 km (62 mi.)

A polar bear's front paws propel them through the water dog-paddle style. The hind feet and legs are held flat and are used as rudders.

Polar bears can obtain a swimming speed of 10 kph (6.2 mph)"

Pictures of polar bears swimming are at: http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/polar-bear/adaptations.htm

The San Diego Zoo polar bear plunge cam is at: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/ex_polar_bear_plunge.html

"Harbor seals swim with all four flippers: their hind flippers propel them forward, and their foreflippers help them steer.

Harbor seals can swim forward and upside-down. They rarely swim backward.

Harbor seals can swim up to 19 kph (12 mph), but they generally cruise at slower speeds."