An annual polar bear gathering is happening in Canada right now (PHOTOS)
We all know that Shark Week is a pinnacle of summertime television viewing. But what if we told you that you could also get your animal fix in the winter? Polar Bear Week is upon us, and it is just as cute as you’d expect. That’s right, November 3-9 is dedicated solely to our furry white friends from the north.
On top of providing a live stream to showcase the bears’ adorable antics in real time through the Polar Bear Cam, Polar Bears International also conducts an awareness week to further the education surrounding our native white bears. Now in its seventh year, Polar Bear Week assists us all in gaining a further understanding of polar bears as well as the threats to their sea ice home as a result of global warming and the debilitating effects of climate change.
For Polar Bear Week 2019, Polar Bears International has also implemented an immersive Augmented Reality Experience, in association with AVARA Media, wherein users can see what it is like to hunt for seals on sea ice or get cozy with cubs inside a snow den. The simulation is of Devon Island, Nunavut, and the unique experience was created to coordinate with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The week coincides with the polar bears’ annual gathering on the shores of Hudson Bay, where they wait for the sea ice to form, which allows them to return to hunting seal in the polar bear capital of the world in Churchill, Manitoba.
Image Credit: Polar Bears International/Simon Gee
Scientists estimate that we could see substantial declines in the polar bear population by mid-century if we carry on in a “business as usual” mindset when it comes to our carbon emissions. Polar bears rely on Arctic sea ice for hunting their seal prey. As the global climate continues to warm, Arctic sea ice melts, threatening the polar bears’ future.
Outside of Polar Bear Week, Polar Bears International focuses on year-round conservation efforts, including advocating for carbon-neutral policies and reducing their personal carbon footprints.
If that is not enough to satisfy your polar bear fix, Tundra Connections is also hosting webcasts and live chats to explain more about polar bears and how you can help. You can also symbolically adopt a polar bear by donating directly to Polar Bears International.
We will now leave you with a series of cute polar bear photos.
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