Wildlife Conservation

Wild Polar Bear Tourism Welfare

Polar bear viewing tourism in Churchill, Manitoba and elsewhere can stress bears if poorly managed, despite economic benefits for conservation.

Key Facts

Churchill, Canada is known as the polar bear capital of the world
Tundra buggies provide viewing with some distance from bears
Bears congregate near Churchill waiting for sea ice to form
Tourism revenue can incentivize bear protection

Welfare Considerations

Vehicle noise, proximity, and altered behavior from tourism create cumulative stress on bears. Bears that become habituated to humans may seek food sources and face lethal removal. Climate change is extending the ice-free period, increasing bear stress from food deprivation, which tourism-related disturbance compounds.

What You Can Do

Choose operators certified by responsible wildlife tourism standards
Maintain distance guidelines from polar bears at all times
Support polar bear conservation organizations
Advocate for climate action to preserve polar bear sea ice habitat