Thinking about you. ArcticWild.net photo.
As we mark International Polar Bear Day on February 27, 2025, it’s worth reflecting on the challenging journey that polar bear cubs face at this time of year, as the newborns are emerging from their winter dens into a harsh Arctic world.
Born blind, toothless, and weighing just one pound, polar bear cubs face staggering odds from their first breath. A sobering reality: only about half of all cubs survive their critical first 2½ years with their mother. This period represents one of nature’s most demanding apprenticeships.
A hug in the snow. Ellen Zangla photo.
The cubs’ survival hinges on multiple factors: the mother’s health, age, and experience; her hunting prowess and protective instincts; and increasingly, environmental conditions beyond her control, such as sea ice extent and seal availability.
Scientists note that if the cubs can get through that first year there’s a good chance they’ll make it to their third year. When Mom pushes them away at 2½ to 3, the mortality rate is again 50 percent. This second mortality spike occurs when young bears must suddenly fend for themselves. Many haven’t mastered essential hunting techniques or lack the physical strength to break through ice to reach seals. Others fall victim to larger male bears and wolves, a natural but brutal reality of polar bear life.
Posing with Mom. Steve Pressman / YouGottaLoveNature.com photo.
The gauntlet continues through the sub-adult phase (ages three to five), when these bears occupy the lowest social position. Young males rarely breed before age eight or nine, kept away from breeding females by dominant males. With approximately three males competing for every female, the population dynamics create additional pressures.
Climate change has added additional layers of difficulty to this already challenging journey. Diminishing sea ice means shorter hunting seasons, longer swims between ice floes, and increased competition for food. For inexperienced young bears, these changing conditions may prove insurmountable.
Mom and cubs on their way to Hudson Bay. Albert Saunders photo.
How You Can Help on International Polar Bear Day
- Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: Choose sustainable transportation, support renewable energy, and reduce consumption to combat climate change.
- Support Conservation Organizations: Donate to Polar Bears International, World Wildlife Fund, or local conservation programs conducting vital research and education.
- Organize a Polar Bear Walk: Whether you walk one kilometre or five, raise awareness and funds for polar bear conservation.
- Adopt a Polar Bear: Symbolic adoptions provide financial support and raise awareness through educational materials.
- Reduce Waste: Cut down on plastics and responsibly dispose of trash to minimize human impact on wildlife habitats.
- Spread Awareness: Share polar bear facts, photos and graphics on social media with hashtags like #PolarBearDay and #SaveOurSeaIce.
- Educate Youth: Share polar bear books and activities to help the next generation understand conservation challenges.
Brother and sister will need each other on their precarious journey to adulthood. Fabienne Jansen / ArcticWild.net photo.
Sustainable Tourism with Churchill Wild
For over 30 years, Churchill Wild has practiced responsible tourism through:
- Solar power as our primary energy source
- Strict recycling and composting policies
- Local food sourcing and Arctic foraging
- Minimal use of motorized vehicles for our walking safaris
- Sustainable building design maximizing natural light
- Water conservation and reuse systems
A mother’s love. Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge. Christoph Jansen / ArcticWild.net photo.
Our guests at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge are currently photographing and documenting the lives of polar bear cubs on the Nanuk Emergence Quest. While statistics highlight threats posed by climate change, nothing creates understanding like witnessing polar bears in their natural habitat, a highly emotional experience that when shared with the world, becomes a powerful tool for advocacy.
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On this special day, may we always remember the unseen struggles of the smallest bears fighting tremendous odds in an increasingly unpredictable Arctic. Our actions today determine their future. And what’s good for polar bears…
Is good for all of us.
Sustainability at Churchill Wild
