The World
Wildlife Fund (WWF) has significantly invested in supporting polar bear
research. With the help of researchers, WWF
is tracking several polar bears in the artic using satellite collars. At present polar bears in three (3)
geographic regions are under observation.
South
Beaufort Sea – Just north of Alaska, the South Beaufort Sea is home to many
seals, beluga whales and three polar bears with satellite collars.
o
Winnie (female, 154kg, named by the Winchester Thurston
School)
o
ID: X32682 (female)
o
ID: X32690 (female)
Hudson Bay – Surrounded by Nunavut, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec,
Hudson Bay is the second largest bay in the world and is relatively shallow
with an average depth of 100 meters. It
is home to five (5) bears with satellite collars.
o
Neige (female, 18yrs, 156kg, mother of 2 cubs)
o
Callista (female, 7yrs, 201kg, mother of 1 cub)
o
Aurora (female, 8yrs, 203kg, mother of 1 cub)
o
Nanukic (female, 17yrs, 135kg, mother of 2 cubs)
o
Nita (female, 26yrs, 241kg, mother of 1 cub)
Svalbard
– Svalbard is the northernmost part of Norway, which is home to polar bears and
reindeer. Communities
in this region depend on aircraft and boats to get around since no roads exist.
o Paniq-Qaniq (female, 8yrs, 146kg, 1 cub
o Sangilak (female, 11yrs, 135kg, potentially lost her cubs named by Emile Musa)
o ID: N23831 (female, 9yrs, 163kg, collar has failed or bear has died)
o ID: N26054 (female, 22yrs, 216kg, collar has failed or bear has died)
