2008 Is The Year of the Polar Bear
PBI Kicked off The Year of the Polar Bear on January 1, 2008.
The Year of the Polar Bear (YPB) began on New Year's Day, 2008, with a ceremony at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Oregon. Three weeks later, ceremonies continued at the Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota, as the zoo's two polar bears played outside in the swirling snow.
Polar Bears International (PBI) and zoo officials launched the campaign in order to raise awareness of the problems that polar bears face in a changing Arctic. PBI's two-pronged mission is to support conservation measures through scientific research and to educate the public about issues relating to the polar bear and its habitat.
“The Year of the Polar Bear is a unique collaboration between PBI and over 35 top zoos and institutions to help them become education centers on Arctic conservation,” says Robert Buchanan, PBI's president. “Zoos have the potential to reach the millions of people and inspire meaningful change.”
Critical Timing
Although PBI has been planning the YPB for several years, recent studies concerning the shrinking sea ice in the Arctic underscore the importance of taking action soon. Even as PBI launched the YPB, sobering news arrived from the Arctic about enormous fractures in the Beaufort Sea ice (see story, page three).
The winter break-up set off alarm bells for polar bear scientists because the Arctic meltdown is taking place at a much faster clip than computer models predicted. Some climate experts now estimate that the Arctic could be completely ice-free during the summer months in less than 10 years—decades earlier than the previous forecast of 2040.
“This news makes PBI's research efforts on behalf of the bears even more important than ever,” says Buchanan. “At the same, we need to rally the public behind us so we can all work together to effect change.”
Alliance with the San Diego Zoo
The YPB's many events and activities will focus the public's attention on polar bears, the Arctic, and climate change. It will also leave a lasting legacy thanks to a newly formed alliance between PBI and the Zoological Society of San Diego®. The alliance establishes San Diego as the headquarters for a far-reaching conservation program called “Arctic Ambassadors®.”
“Under the guidance of this program, zoos throughout the world will help educate and inspire millions of people by establishing Arctic Ambassador Centers®,” Buchanan says.
As part of the alliance, the San Diego Zoo will manage the logistical operations of PBI's highly successful “Adventure Learning Program.” This program includes PBI's Leadership Camp in Churchill, Arctic distant learning initiatives, a world lecture series, interactive education programs, the annual Polar Bear Cam, and the launch of the YPB.
The San Diego Zoo will also become an active participant in PBI's field research initiatives, as well as zoo-based studies that add to our understanding of the polar bear's reproduction, sensory ecology, and mother and cub relationships. In addtion, PBI and the San Diego Zoo will work as a team to provide worldwide leadership on polar bear husbandry issues.
“We couldn't be more pleased with this partnership,” says Buchanan. “It comes at a critical juncture for the bears.”
Year of the Polar Bear Activities
Even as PBI's field research continues behind the scenes, the YPB will engage and motivate the public. In addition to the establishment of “Arctic Ambassador Centers” in individual zoos, the year's special programs and activities include:
A National Teen Contest, where participating zoos become part of a nationwide contest to attract teens to act on conservation issues
An Online Teaching Curriculum that introduces teachers and students to the issue of eco-tourism in the Arctic
Zoo Visitor Enhancements, which provide participating zoos with a polar bear interpretive cart and presentation materials
An Online Game consisting of a massive, multi-layer environment that immerses players into the majestic, harsh, and fragile world of the Arctic
An expanded Leadership Camp for young people, involving twice as many students and sponsoring institutions
A tour to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, where representatives of participating zoos will experience life on the famous Tundra Buggy Lodge® during the peak of the polar bear season.
“The Year of the Polar Bear will keep polar bears in the news,” Buchanan says, “as well as the issue of Arctic climate change. “Our goal is to create the greatest generation for conservation the world has yet to see®.”
Polar Bears International (PBI) and zoo officials launched the campaign in order to raise awareness of the problems that polar bears face in a changing Arctic. PBI's two-pronged mission is to support conservation measures through scientific research and to educate the public about issues relating to the polar bear and its habitat.
“The Year of the Polar Bear is a unique collaboration between PBI and over 35 top zoos and institutions to help them become education centers on Arctic conservation,” says Robert Buchanan, PBI's president. “Zoos have the potential to reach the millions of people and inspire meaningful change.”
Critical Timing
Although PBI has been planning the YPB for several years, recent studies concerning the shrinking sea ice in the Arctic underscore the importance of taking action soon. Even as PBI launched the YPB, sobering news arrived from the Arctic about enormous fractures in the Beaufort Sea ice (see story, page three).
The winter break-up set off alarm bells for polar bear scientists because the Arctic meltdown is taking place at a much faster clip than computer models predicted. Some climate experts now estimate that the Arctic could be completely ice-free during the summer months in less than 10 years—decades earlier than the previous forecast of 2040.
“This news makes PBI's research efforts on behalf of the bears even more important than ever,” says Buchanan. “At the same, we need to rally the public behind us so we can all work together to effect change.”
Alliance with the San Diego Zoo
The YPB's many events and activities will focus the public's attention on polar bears, the Arctic, and climate change. It will also leave a lasting legacy thanks to a newly formed alliance between PBI and the Zoological Society of San Diego®. The alliance establishes San Diego as the headquarters for a far-reaching conservation program called “Arctic Ambassadors®.”
“Under the guidance of this program, zoos throughout the world will help educate and inspire millions of people by establishing Arctic Ambassador Centers®,” Buchanan says.
As part of the alliance, the San Diego Zoo will manage the logistical operations of PBI's highly successful “Adventure Learning Program.” This program includes PBI's Leadership Camp in Churchill, Arctic distant learning initiatives, a world lecture series, interactive education programs, the annual Polar Bear Cam, and the launch of the YPB.
The San Diego Zoo will also become an active participant in PBI's field research initiatives, as well as zoo-based studies that add to our understanding of the polar bear's reproduction, sensory ecology, and mother and cub relationships. In addtion, PBI and the San Diego Zoo will work as a team to provide worldwide leadership on polar bear husbandry issues.
“We couldn't be more pleased with this partnership,” says Buchanan. “It comes at a critical juncture for the bears.”
Year of the Polar Bear Activities
Even as PBI's field research continues behind the scenes, the YPB will engage and motivate the public. In addition to the establishment of “Arctic Ambassador Centers” in individual zoos, the year's special programs and activities include:
A National Teen Contest, where participating zoos become part of a nationwide contest to attract teens to act on conservation issues
An Online Teaching Curriculum that introduces teachers and students to the issue of eco-tourism in the Arctic
Zoo Visitor Enhancements, which provide participating zoos with a polar bear interpretive cart and presentation materials
An Online Game consisting of a massive, multi-layer environment that immerses players into the majestic, harsh, and fragile world of the Arctic
An expanded Leadership Camp for young people, involving twice as many students and sponsoring institutions
A tour to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, where representatives of participating zoos will experience life on the famous Tundra Buggy Lodge® during the peak of the polar bear season.
“The Year of the Polar Bear will keep polar bears in the news,” Buchanan says, “as well as the issue of Arctic climate change. “Our goal is to create the greatest generation for conservation the world has yet to see®.”
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