I suppose that would depend on whether polar bears were susceptible to pity - a whole other research project! The nearest I could get to that would be that, with mammals, large eyes --> young --> protective instinct. So, if watery eyes refract the light so as to make them look larger, then-- but no, I feel calimac's disapproving gaze (and quite right too), so will refrain from further speculation.

Except, of course, that there's also the matter of the crocodiles...