Photo: Kt Miller / Polar Bears International

Close-up of Polar Bear Walking from above

Safe and Responsible Polar Bear Tourism

We're working to ensure that polar bears aren’t disturbed in a biologically meaningful way and that people and bears remain safe.

Why it Matters

Polar Bears International has long supported respectful tourism to see polar bears in their natural habitat.

Seeing polar bears in the wild and learning about the challenges they face can inspire people to get involved in their conservation. But we must also ensure that the bears aren’t disturbed in a biologically meaningful way and that people and bears remain safe.

The Impact

Supporting responsible tourism: To better understand tourism impacts and make informed decisions on viewing guidelines, we’re supporting research on polar bear behaviour in response to tourism activity. This research champions local expertise by involving community members and locally based guides.
Guiding drone usage: We created guidance for drone operators to capture amazing shots while ensuring they stay safe, and the bears aren’t disturbed by or desensitized to drones.

Project Partners

University of Alberta, Handcraft Creative