Top 10 Conservation Highlights from 2022

As we look back over the past year, we wanted to take a moment to highlight the progress we made together on behalf of polar bears. Here are our Top 10 conservation highlights from 2022.

Coexistence Efforts

Thanks to your generosity, we tested 3 “Detect to Protect” radar systems on wild polar bears and are now training the AI software to recognize them. The goal is to alert communities of approaching bears. We also expanded our bear-safe community work from Manitoba, Canada to Ontario—with plans to reach additional polar bear nations in 2023.

Protecting Moms and Cubs

Your support allowed us to deploy 2 remote cameras at polar bear den sites in Svalbard to record the behavior of moms and cubs when they emerge in spring. We also conducted flights over 2 known den sites to test whether Synthetic Aperture Radar, or SAR, can find dens under the snow, building on earlier promising results.

Growing Our Impact

This year we added 2 new scientists, 1 vice president of conservation, and 2 new postdocs, bringing our scientific team to 10 people in 4 countries (the U.S., Canada, Denmark, and Norway). This includes our 1st Norwegian-based scientist, who is leading our analysis of den-monitoring data in Svalbard.

Climate Alliance

In 2022, we trained 21 zoo professionals from 3 different countries on the most effective ways to communicate about polar bears, sea ice, and climate change, bringing the total to 186 graduates. The 7-month course empowers graduates to communicate with confidence on climate change, helping to move the dial in their communities. Discover more

Storytelling Bears

Your support of our outreach efforts includes innovative tools like the Polar Bear Tracker on our website. It consistently ranks as one of the 5 most popular pages on our website, with visitors checking out the movements of 15 wild polar bears in Western and Southern Hudson Bay in relation to changing sea ice coverage.

Better Tracking Devices

Thanks to your support, we moved closer to completing work on an innovative new “Burr on Fur” tracking device for polar bears, narrowing the designs from 4 prototypes to 2. So far, we’ve tested 11 tags on zoo bears and 21 tags on wild bears, working with 11 Arctic Ambassador Center zoos and 2 government agencies. Learn more

Arctic Inspiration

Thanks to your generosity, we touched hearts and minds through our live Polar Bear, Northern Lights, and Beluga Cams in partnership with explore.org, inspiring people to care. In 2022, we reached over 4 million people around the world with these windows into the Arctic, including over 3 million views on archived YouTube videos alone!

Global Education

Because of you, we reached students and lifelong learners around the world with 18 Tundra Connections webcasts and live chats. We also partnered with organizations like Students on Ice and Connected North, and added 3 new curricula to our website, including “Paws Up for Polar Bears,” which focuses on climate change and climate action. Watch our archives, above.

Speaking Up for Polar Bears

As a leading voice for polar bears, your generosity allowed us to send 2 representatives to the U.N. climate talks (COP27), while supporting a diverse group of valuable voices. These included Indigenous leaders, youth, climate communicators, and experts in climate action plans who shared their perspectives and insights.

Spreading the Word Far and Wide

In a world of misinformation and digital clutter, you helped us cut through the noise and serve as a trusted source on polar bears, sea ice, and climate change—through our website, social media, and other outreach. In 2022, we were featured in 3,243 unique media articles with an estimated reach of 5 billion people. Explore more