Arctic Ambassador Center Network: 20 Years

Polar Bears International is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Arctic Ambassador Center network of zoos and aquariums this year — which says something about how long I have been in this field and working with polar bears.

I first met Robert and Carolyn Buchanan of Polar Bears International in 2001 when they were exploring what zoos and aquariums could bring to polar bear conservation. They quickly discovered that zoos are full of passionate, talented individuals who care deeply about animals and wildlife. But more important: They realized that zoos and aquariums could serve as a vital conduit for sharing conservation messaging with people from all walks of life.

Reaching the public

As most of us know, conservation is really a people problem. This is especially true for a species like the polar bear, whose habitat is literally melting out from under them due to human-caused climate change. Because of this, it is absolutely critical that we engage as many people as possible in taking action.

In North America alone, accredited zoos and aquariums see hundreds of millions of visitors every year. Critically, these guests are diverse in their political, economic, and social backgrounds. Conservation organizations often have trouble accessing diverse cross-sections of society and end up “preaching to the choir,” but many different folks enjoy a day at the zoo with their children or grandchildren. This creates an unprecedented opportunity to engage with them about our shared value of a healthy future for polar bears and people.

What’s more, studies show that zoos are trusted voices on conservation, viewed as reliable messengers across the political spectrum.

Climate change and more

Polar Bears International has always had a big tent approach to polar bear conservation, and the Arctic Ambassador Center network is one of the first and strongest examples of how we’ve managed to have an outsized impact for our relative size. The program is led by Marissa Krouse, our director of conservation programs. Under her leadership, the network has grown from a handful of zoos and aquariums in the U.S. to 49 facilities in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

The zoos and aquariums that join our Arctic Ambassador Center network amplify the call for climate action both on the ground and through their widely viewed media platforms. They share their creativity, passion, and talent to help conserve wild polar bears not only through exhibit signage and educational programs, but also by taking part in special events and campaigns. What’s more, they lead sustainability efforts in their communities, engage with civic leaders, and leverage their unprecedented access to polar bears to advance conservation science, helping with studies that would be impossible to conduct with polar bears in the wild.

Mutually beneficial

As part of our relationship, we provide our Arctic Ambassador Center members with access to our extensive film and photo library and support for interpretive messaging. We generate media toolkits for our awareness days and create and support professional development opportunities for zoo staff that translate into effective outreach on polar bears and climate change and improved animal care. We help increase the visibility of their conservation efforts and ability to tell compelling stories. In addition, members of our Arctic Ambassador Center network tell us that their engagement with Polar Bears International provides inspiration to their staff, helping them retain talent, gain credibility, and help their employees grow.

It can be rare to have a truly mutually beneficial partnership, but the Arctic Ambassador Center network represents just that. We are aligned in our objectives and our messaging. We share trust, values, and a vision for the future. What’s more, we each bring valuable skills and assets to the table that we freely share. Pooling our resources and sharing our passion has created a powerful force on behalf of polar bears. Twenty years in, I am proud to be a part of it.

Amy Cutting is vice president of conservation at Polar Bears International. She joined our team in 2022 after volunteering for more than 20 years. Prior to joining our staff she spent 20 years at the Oregon Zoo as an animal keeper, senior keeper, and curator overseeing animal care and species recovery programs.

Marissa Krouse is director of conservation programs at Polar Bears International. She is deeply connected to this work and the Arctic Ambassador Center network. In 2009, Marissa participated in our first Leadership Camp (now called Climate Alliance), representing the North Carolina Zoo. She returned as a facilitator in 2010 and 2011 before joining our team in 2014.