International Polar Bear Day at Assiniboine Park Zoo aims to educate public about climate change effects
Activities, information sessions being held at zoo on Sunday
Winnipeg's zoo is celebrating International Polar Bear Day with a weekend full of activities, information sessions and other events highlighting the impact climate change has on the province's beloved animal.
"International polar bear day is important for educating the public about polar bears and the problems that they're facing in the wild due to climate change," Emily Anderson, an animal care professional with Assiniboine Park Zoo, said on Saturday.
The zoo hosted some activities on Saturday and is continuing to hold more events on Sunday to celebrate the internationally recognized day, which is officially held on Feb. 27.
The day was created by the non-profit Polar Bears International, and coincides with the time when polar bear mothers and cubs are in their dens.
Crafts, face painting, talks with the zoo's animal care team, an information session with the conservation and research team and other activities are expected to be held Sunday.
Anderson said she hopes the events inspire the public to do what they can to reduce the impacts of climate change, which continues to threaten polar bear populations.
"You can do things like walking or using the bus instead of taking your car or eating locally produced foods instead of buying foods that have to be shipped from far away," she said.
The zoo partners with Churchill to rescue vulnerable polar bear cubs or cubs that don't appear to have mothers. They take the cubs into the zoo and raise them.
Polar bear numbers in the western Hudson Bay region, where Churchill is located, have plunged in recent decades, and as temperatures warm and impact the formation of sea ice, researchers say the bears are unable to go out to hunt and are spending more time on shore.
This past summer, conservation officers in Churchill responded to a record 76 polar bear encounters in or near town in August, up from 18 calls by the same date a year ago.
Most events at the zoo on Sunday take place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
With files from Radio-Canada