It’s an inspiration to meet someone with in-depth knowledge and driving passion—whether on the tundra or in a zoo.
Polar bear jaws can crunch. Their claws can rip. Just ask a seal—or anyone who's seen replicas of polar bear skulls and claws on a bear-watching tour in Churchill.
Polar bears like to play. They slide on their bellies across the ice. They toss around strands of kelp. They wrestle with each other in the snow.
If you visit Churchill, you'll learn fun facts like these from our field ambassadors. These intrepid young women from the zoo profession share their knowledge about polar bears with fascinated tourists aboard Tundra Buggies®. They tell stories. They answer questions. And once they're back home, they spread the word about sea ice loss and its effect on polar bears everywhere they can.
These volunteers:
- Reach people on nearly 60 tours in Churchill every year
- Donate two weeks of their lives each year for two years, with support from their zoos
- Return home eager to share their experiences with a combined total of more than 10 million people
- Provide leadership in their communities, inspiring green lifestyles, tree-planting campaigns, and more
Big paws up to JoAnne Simerson of the San Diego Zoo, a PBI Advisory Council member, for creating and leading this program. Many thanks, too, to our present and former team members and their sponsoring zoos:
- Alicia Shelley - Columbus Zoo, OH
- Christy Mazrimas-Ott - Brookfield Zoo, Chicago, IL
- Kara Masaschi - Seneca Park Zoo, Rochester, NY
- Kelly Murphy - San Diego Zoo
- Sara Courteau - Como Zoo, St. Paul, MN
- Sarah Bachman - Indianapolis Zoo, IN
- Sarah Oistad - Como Zoo, St. Paul, MN
|
