Latest news with #PolarBearsInternational
Miami Herald
15-07-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Discoveries from the Arctic — ancient finds, disappearing islands amid ice melt
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. July 15 marks World Arctic Sea Ice Day, a campaign organized by Polar Bears International to raise awareness about the rapid loss of sea ice on our planet's northern cap. The Arctic is warming at a rate four times that of the rest of the planet, the organization says, leading to monumental losses of sea ice that can harm not only the ecosystem, but also the animals that call the region home. Just like soil in a forest, sea ice acts as the base of the frozen food chain, providing a place for algae to grow which is eaten by Arctic cod, who then in turn are eaten by predators like polar bears, according to Polar Bears International. Melting ice is causing changes to the shoreline, animal behavior and even leading to new archaeological discoveries as centuries-old artifacts are revealed for the first time. Take a look at some recent discoveries made in the frosty landscape, and how that landscape is changing: Melting ice and observant park ranger lead to 1,500-year-old hunting tool in Norway In Breheimen National Park, Norway, melting ice and a vigilant park ranger led to the discovery of a 1,500-year-old 'scaring stick,' used by ancient hunters to trap reindeer. This artifact, made from a young birch tree, was found flattened against rocks due to the pressure of snow and ice. The Secrets of the Ice team plans to explore more sites for similar discoveries. | Published Aug. 28 | Read More | Melting ice reveals centuries-old fabric items still 'beautifully preserved.' See them Archaeologists at Lendbreen glacier in southern Norway uncovered a beautifully preserved piece of textile likely from the medieval period or Viking age. The site also revealed other artifacts, including a leather or hide object and well-preserved Iron Age arrows. | Published Sept. 10 | Read More | Arctic explorers vanished in 1845. Now, cannibalized body of crew member identified Captain James Fitzjames, who vanished with his crew during the Franklin Northwest Passage expedition in 1845, has been identified through DNA analysis on King William Island, Nunavut, Canada. The discovery of Fitzjames' remains, marked by signs of cannibalism, sheds light on the desperate measures taken by the crew. | Published Sept. 30 | Read More | Schoolchildren check satellite images for island in Russia — then find it's missing In the Arctic Ocean, schoolchildren participating in a Russian program discovered that Mesyatsev Island had vanished due to rising sea levels and coastal erosion. The island, which had shrunk significantly over the years, was completely submerged by September. | Published Nov. 12 | Read More | What do narwhals use their tusks for? First-of-its-kind drone footage offers clues Drone footage from the Canadian Arctic has provided new insights into the purpose of narwhal tusks, revealing their use in hunting and play. The footage shows narwhals using their tusks to stun fish and engage in playful behavior with Arctic char. This discovery highlights the tusks' multifunctional role and the adaptability of narwhals to their environment. | Published March 4 | Read More | Killer whales seen 'kissing' for the first time in the wild, photo shows In the Kvænangen fjords of Norway, above the Arctic Circle, snorkelers captured footage of two killer whales 'kissing' underwater. This rare behavior, observed for the first time in the wild, is believed to reinforce social bonds among juveniles. | Published June 27 | Read More |
New York Post
23-05-2025
- New York Post
Guests are paying to sleep at the ‘best zoo in Europe' so they can wake up alongside bears, wolves and penguins
Bears, wolves and deer — oh my! A Belgian zoo is offering guests a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share a room with mammals, birds and animals of all kinds. Deemed as 'Europe's best zoo,' Pairi Daiza is now allowing guests to fully experience wild animal life at all hours of the day. Advertisement Imagine waking up alongside a walrus, penguin, wolf or polar bear? 3 Who wouldn't want to wake up next to an adorable penguin? Jam Press/Pairi Daiza It could sound like a nightmare to some — but at the Pairi Daiza resort in Brugelette, Belgium, guests are paying for rooms and suites that start at a little over $100 a night to do exactly that. Advertisement This unique resort offers spacious suites and lodges that overlook animals on all fours — or mammals bopping underwater. Each of the rooms has giant glass walls that give adventurous guests an insight into the lives of these creatures. 3 Rates for these rooms and suites start at $124 a night. Jam Press/Pairi Daiza The zoo has over 7,500 animals in different themed areas, and according to Luxury Travel Daily, the resort has over 100 different rooms with amazing views of many of these animals that guests can choose from. Advertisement Talk about a fever dream. Aside from being a unique place to vacation, Pairi Daiza is also an Arctic Ambassador for Polar Bears International, which is a non-profit conservation organization. 'We focus on the quality of our facilities for polar bears, our commitment to fighting climate change, and our efforts to raise awareness about the threats to biodiversity,' the resort said, according to Jam Press. 3 Pairi Daiza is an Arctic Ambassador for Polar Bears International, which is a non-profit conservation organization. Jam Press/Pairi Daiza Advertisement And the Pairi Daiz resort is just one of many hotels trying to offer guests an unforgettable experience. 'Hotels stand out from the crowd by offering unique experiences for their guests,' Susan Zurbin-Hothersall, travel agent at the Travel Edge Network, told The Post. 'They can include properties that are located in one-of-a-kind areas (mountaintops, remote wilderness, historic districts), have distinctive architecture, interior design elements, memorable amenities, such as rooftop bars, customized meals, spas in areas, sustainability focus,' she added. If you're looking to stay abroad — and bonus points if you love history — the Argos Hotel in Cappadocia, Turkey, is in a 2,000-year-old monastery. As a result, you can book a stay in one of their ancient cave or tunnel rooms. And if you're a Northern Lights buff, the Hotel Ranga in Hella, Iceland is tucked away in a remote area with barely any artificial light. The property has telescopes for prime stargazing and a chance to see the Northern Lights.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Man Drops Gun, Manages to Outrun Polar Bear on Snowmobile in Heart-Racing Moment Caught on Camera
A man was caught on camera managing to outrun a polar bear on a snowmobile after the animal chased after him in the Arctic Circle The person made it to the vehicle and sped away, as the animal briefly ran after him in a clip filmed by onlookers The polar bear eventually gave up the chase and was seen walking away in the opposite direction A man luckily had a snowmobile nearby after coming face-to-face with a polar bear in the Arctic Circle over the weekend. On Sunday, April 27, the person noticed the animal running in his direction before seemingly firing shots in a bid to deter it in a heart-racing moment captured on camera by onlookers. After a brief pause, the polar bear started to run toward the man in the clip, before he decided it was time to ditch the gun and escape to safety. He then leapt onto a snowmobile and sped away in the video obtained by Newsflare. Despite initially remaining hot on the man's heels for a moment, the bear eventually gave up the chase. "Very brave guy!" one person behind the camera said in the video, while another added, "Damn, that guy is brave!" After the brief chase, the polar bear sat down in the snow, looking around at their surroundings, before getting up and walking away in the opposite direction. The exact location of the incident was not immediately revealed. Related: 'Surreal' Photo of Polar Bear Napping in Field of Flowers Stuns Photo Contest — See the Other Winners! Polar bears have been "spending more time ashore in more places, and for longer periods" in recent years as the "Arctic warms and the sea ice melts," according to Polar Bears International. "This has led to an uptick in polar bear-human encounters, sometimes with tragic results," the conservation organization said on its website. Alysa McCall, who is the director of conservation outreach and a staff scientist at Polar Bears International, previously told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) of why the animals might attack, "A healthy polar bear that's out on the sea ice is not going to have a lot of incentive to attack a human being." As previously reported by PEOPLE, in December, a man was seriously injured in Ontario, Canada, after trying to prevent a polar bear from attacking his wife in their driveway in Fort Severn First Nation near Hudson Bay. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. McCall said at the time that polar bears are usually hunting for seals out on the ice in that area, but "when the ice breaks up, they come inland in search of food," per CBC. "It could be that [when] this attack happened, maybe this bear was a little hungrier than usual," McCall insisted, adding that climate change meant the animals might be "coming into contact with communities and people more than they used to" due to sea ice patterns changing. "If you're attacked by a polar bear, definitely do not play dead — that is a myth," McCall advised, according to the outlet. "Fight as long as you can." Polar Bears International didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for a comment on the latest Arctic Circle incident. Read the original article on People
CBS News
16-04-2025
- CBS News
Acclaimed photographer details decline of Manitoba's polar bear population
In 1993, Don Shelby and a crew from WCCO embarked on a journey to Churchill, Manitoba in Canada The trip was sparked by this curiosity: How do people and polar bears live side by side in the same town? Thirty years later, WCCO reporter Erin Hassanzadeh and photojournalist Tom Aviles returned to Churchill , enamored by the same thing. But the story has shifted. Acclaimed photographer Dan Cox, a Minnesota native, has been trekking to Churchill nearly every year since 1987. "It's a rough-around-the-edges community that has these amazing animals that move through once a year," Cox said. "Because of that, it is the place to go to see these animals." The pursuit of polar bears led to captivating footage, and it built a relationship with the town and its prized possessions. "There's something about these big white bears. They're powerful. It's that opportunity to relate and get a little more connected to a true wild experience," he said. From certain vantage points, Churchill today can look like the Churchill of the '90s. Though the stars of the show haven't changed, the way visitors view the bears has evolved a bit from the rugged buggies of the past to the fleet of EV tundra buggies we spotted on our trip. The way the town patrols and pushes out bears even has a similar feel, but one change is unmistakable. Since Shelby's visit, the polar bear population here has been cut in half, according to estimates shared by Polar Bears International, down from 1,200 to roughly 620. Scientists say it's because of warming that's melting the arctic sea ice bears depend on for hunting and habitat. "There's been these kinds of notable changes that become obvious that things are much different than they were back in the '80s and '90s," Cox said. "Definitely much warmer temperatures. It's hard to believe it's not easy to find winter anymore." Despite the changes, the bears and people of Churchill are still captivating visitors from far corners of the globe. And those who know the town dearly hope that won't fade away "It would just would be a major loss and there's just not that many places left in the world that you can replace it with. In fact, I don't know of any," Cox said. "I'm just hopeful the polar bear will always be around to excite people and encourage people to maybe think a little more about what it is we're all doing to the planet, and the animals and the places we love on this planet." There's a lot to love in Churchill, but as Hassanzadeh and her crew discovered, we may lose those polar bears in our lifetime if we don't do something about it. It's something we explore in our WCCO Original documentary "On The Edge," streaming online right now . You can also join us to watch in person for free this Friday at the Minneapolis Institute of Art , and on Earth Day at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts issue urgent warning after witnessing unsettling shift in polar bear actions: 'We were super surprised'
A powerful photo series showing polar bears wandering through abandoned buildings on a remote Russian island has captured the world's attention — but experts say it's not just an eerie snapshot. It's a warning sign. As sea ice continues to shrink, polar bears are adapting in unexpected and troubling ways, and their growing presence on land could put both wildlife and people at risk. Wildlife photographer Dmitry Kokh was seeking shelter from a storm in far northeast Russia in 2021 when he spotted something strange on the deserted island of Kolyuchin — polar bears. Nearly 20 of them roamed the ruins of a long-abandoned Soviet weather station, with some even peeking out of the windows. "We were super surprised because we never expected to meet polar bears so far to the south," Kokh told the BBC in a new report this month. The image, titled "House of Bears," went on to win the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award. But while the pictures are visually striking, researchers say this behavior is a growing — and potentially more dangerous — trend. Polar bears are spending more time on land, often close to human settlements. And it's not out of curiosity, as the BBC detailed, but hunger. Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt seals, their main source of food. But with rising temperatures melting ice earlier each year, they're left with fewer options. Some have begun scavenging land-based food sources, including open dumps near northern towns. Wildlife scientist Tom Smith notes that while bears don't see humans as prey, encounters are becoming more common — and potentially more threatening. Hungry bears accustomed to garbage may start wandering into villages, damaging property, or in rare cases, attacking people. "They're curious animals so we see them in structures often, or they will be climbing on top of cars or pipelines," Smith said. On land, the bears burn through fat reserves quickly and can't get the nutrients they need. Research shows their health, reproductive success, and long-term survival are all at risk if this shift continues. Do you think we should deal with air pollution by burying things underground? Sounds great No way Only for certain waste I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Experts like Smith are urging governments to fund better waste management in Arctic villages, where open garbage dumps are drawing hungry polar bears closer to people. "It's extremely expensive. They need help," Smith said. Some Arctic communities have already started securing waste with bear-proof bins and enclosed landfills. In a town in Manitoba, Canada, called Churchill, closing an open dump helped reduce conflicts with bears. Experts also advocate for wider use of deterrents like bear spray and increased public education. Long-term solutions will depend on slowing the planet's overheating and preserving sea ice. Supporting clean energy, reducing single-use plastics, and backing conservation groups like Polar Bears International are all small steps individuals can take. Kokh's haunting images may be art — but they also tell a deeper dystopian story. One where polar bears are adapting to a world they were never built to survive in. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
