On International Polar Bear Day, Scientists Unveil a Groundbreaking Study with Rare Footage and Insights about Polar Bear Moms and Cubs
Join Live Chats, Watch the Northern Lights Live Cam, and Witness Polar Bear Families Emerge from their Dens
Photo: Jon Aars / Norwegian Polar Institute
International Polar Bear Day Advances Research and Protection For Vulnerable Moms and Cubs
MINS
27 Feb 2025
Svalbard, Norway -- February 27, 2025 -- Today marks the 20th annual International Polar Bear Day, a day hosted by Polar Bears International (PBI) to advance Arctic conservation during the season when polar bear moms and cubs are snug in their dens. As the only nonprofit organization dedicated solely to wild polar bears and Arctic sea ice, Polar Bears International is highlighting groundbreaking new research that captures rare footage of polar bear mothers and cubs emerging from their dens in the remote mountains of Svalbard, Norway. The maternal den study, published today in the Journal of Wildlife Management, is the first to combine satellite tracking collars with remote camera traps, offering a unique look at polar bear denning behavior in the Arctic. The research provides critical insights into a critical period for the survival of polar bear cubs and underscores the urgent need to protect denning habitats. Denning is the most vulnerable time in a polar bear’s life, and on International Polar Bear Day, Polar Bears International encourages people to take action to protect polar bear families. Learn more about International Polar Bear Day here.
“The Arctic is warming rapidly, making it harder for polar bear mothers to raise their cubs,” says Krista Wright, Executive Director of Polar Bears International. “This International Polar Bear Day, we invite the world to take action to protect these vulnerable families—polar bears are an indicator of the Arctic’s health, and the Arctic affects us all.”
Moms, Cubs, and the Maternal Den Study: Polar bears are born blind, and fewer than half of all cubs may reach adulthood. Aiming to understand this critical time for polar bear families, organizations including Polar Bears International, the Norwegian Polar Institute, and the San Diego Zoo and Wildlife Association have deployed remote camera traps near known maternal dens in Svalbard, Norway, over nearly a decade. While the team is currently in Svalbard to continue this research, the first results were today published in the Journal of Wildlife Management. The rare footage and analysis provide new insights into den emergence timing, maternal care, and the impacts of climate change on cub survival. As industry expands in the Arctic, the study underscores the need to protect denning areas.
“Den emergence is a crucial time for polar bear cubs, yet it has remained one of the most difficult periods to study,” says Dr. Louise Archer, lead author of the new maternal den study results and Polar Bears International Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto Scarborough. “We’re excited to reveal this new footage, which gives us a rare glimpse into the earliest days of a cub’s life outside the den, helping us better understand their behavior and the risks they face in a changing Arctic.”
Take Part in International Polar Bear Day
Tune into chats with scientists, streaming from Svalbard for a behind-the-scenes look at the maternal den study. Polar Bears International researchers are currently continuing the maternal den research in Svalbard’s mountains. Follow Polar Bears International on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
Watch the rare footage and read the results from the maternal den study, published today.
Watch Violet, a film following a polar bear mom and cubs on Svalbard, blending Polar Bears International Ambassador Hilde Fålun Strøm’s first-hand accounts with insights from the maternal den study.
Enjoy the Northern Lights Live Cam, streaming from Churchill Northern Studies Center in Churchill, Canada thanks to a partnership between Polar Bears International and explore.org, a direct charitable activity of the Annenberg Foundation. While moms and cubs are in their dens, the aurora dances above.
Advocate for polar bears and the Arctic, using your voice and talents to inspire change.
Learn more about moms and cubs:
Donate to protect moms and cubs. Your gift will support research to better protect future generations of polar bears.
The Arctic Lab: For those in London, check out The Arctic Lab from February 27 to March 10 at Canada Goose Regent Street. Inspired by the architecture of Polar Bears International’s Arctic research centers, visitors can learn more about the work of Polar Bears International and discover Canada Goose's PBI Collection (Canada Goose is a longtime PBI partner, and the proceeds from this collection go directly to PBI).
Spread the polar bear love:
Download graphics and learn all about polar bears with the International Polar Bear Day Toolkit
Get social with #PolarBearDay #ProtectMomsAndCubs
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International Polar Bear Day highlights the importance of keeping polar bear moms and cubs safe, a critical part of polar bear conservation. Polar Bears International’s two-pronged approach works to protect today’s bears while addressing their future by tackling climate change—the greatest overarching threat to their survival.
About Polar Bears International
Polar Bears International’s mission is to conserve polar bears and the sea ice they depend on. The organization works to inspire people to care about the Arctic, the threats to its future, and the connection between this remote region and our global climate. Polar Bears International is the only nonprofit organization dedicated solely to wild polar bears and Arctic sea ice, and the staff includes scientists who study wild polar bears. The organization is a recognized leader in polar bear conservation. For more information, visit www.polarbearsinternational.org.
Media Contacts
Annie Edwards, for Polar Bears International
annie@fabricmedia.net
+44 0 7307 139782
