Latest news with #InternationalPolarBearDay
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Come see Anana The Polar Bear at the North Carolina Zoo
ASHEBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — This week the world celebrated International Polar Bear Day. The polar bear population is considered to be vulnerable in the wild. Currently, there are less 60 bears living in zoos across the county and the North Carolina Zoo is the home to one of them. Shannon Smith took a trip to the zoo to show why Anana is special in this week's edition of Zoo Filez. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
27-02-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Adorable polar bear cubs seen emerging from Arctic dens. See first-of-its-kind video
After nearly a decade of trying to learn details about polar bears' denning habits in the Arctic, researchers have captured cubs emerging from dens on video for the first time. The footage was filmed in Svalbard, Norway, and published in a new study in the Journal of Wildlife Management on Feb. 27 — which is International Polar Bear Day, Polar Bears International said in a news release. The video 'shines light on elusive polar bear reproduction' and 'marks the first combination of satellite tracking collars with remote camera traps to answer questions about polar bear denning, which is notoriously difficult to study as polar bear moms build their dens under the snow in remote areas,' the release said. It shows a mother polar bear walking through the frozen landscape — then a cub pops up out of the den and slips and slides over the ice toward her. As the cub reaches its mom, another two emerge and make their way over to their mom and sibling. One of the cubs then climbs onto mom's back to hitch a ride. 'It's a pretty special thing to see polar bear cubs emerge into this vast, white landscape that appears so inhospitable,' lead author Louise Archer told Live Science. Archer is a Polar Bears International postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto Scarborough. 'In Svalbard, polar bears build their dens on the slopes of steep mountainous areas, and it's hard to imagine how cubs could find their feet in this severe terrain,' Archer told the outlet. 'Watching them sliding, tumbling, and even climbing up on their mother was truly remarkable.' Photos and videos shared by Polar Bears International, the Norwegian Polar Institute and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance show the bears and their dens. The denning period is the most vulnerable time in a polar bear's life — and less than 50% of cubs make it to adulthood, researchers said. Several factors negatively impact cub survival, including a warming Arctic and expanding industry. 'Polar bear mothers are having increasing difficulties reproducing due to climate-driven changes, and are likely to face further challenges with the expansion of the human footprint in the Arctic,' Archer said in the release. The team's research into polar bear denning can help protect cubs and therefore the species as a whole, study authors said. 'Protecting denning habitats is essential for population health, and this study provides invaluable insights that will help guide protective management,' Megan Owen, vice president of wildlife conservation science at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, one of the organizations involved in the study, said in the release. The study authors included Archer, BJ Kirschhoffer, Jon Aars, Danielle K. James, Katharina M. Miller, Nicholas W. Pilfold, Joanna Sulich and Owen.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
See it: Rare footage shows polar bear cubs emerging from Arctic den
Polar bear cubs in the Arctic are beginning to emerge from their dens. Until now, the babies have been relying on nutrients from their mother's milk to go from hairless, blind cubs to bears ready to face the harsh climate. Ten years of research have revealed new information about the rarely seen, precious time between polar bear mothers and their cubs when they emerge from their dens. Polar bear cubs are born blind and weigh about a pound. The period after birth until they first climb out of the den is considered critical, as less than 50% of cubs make it to adulthood, according to the collaborative study between Polar Bears International, the Norwegian Polar Institute and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Scientists involved in the study said that understanding this period can help protect the polar bear population, which is being threatened by depleted sea ice and a changing climate. See It: Dreamy Image Of Polar Bear On Ice Bed Melts Hearts Around The World The 10-year maternal den study used satellite tracking collars and remote cameras to study polar bear denning behavior in the Arctic mountains near Svalbard, Norway. Video captured by the researchers showed the adorable moment three cubs emerged from their den following their mother out into the sun and snow. In one video, the mother comes out for the all-clear, and the cubs dart out after her slipping and sliding in the snow. According to the study published in the Journal of Wildlife Management, surveillance of polar bear denning found mothers and their cubs emerged earlier than previously recorded in the population near Svalbard. "Changing the timing of denning could potentially jeopardize cub survival as cubs have less time to develop before venturing further afield to the sea ice," the study authors wrote. Polar bear mothers were also recorded switching dens, leaving their original dens and moving their cubs to a new home. According to the researchers, cubs spend about 2 years with their mothers and are rarely seen outside the den without their mothers – only about 5% of the time. The study was published Thursday, marking the 20th annual International Polar Bear Day, established to raise awareness for Arctic conservation during the season when polar bears are in their dens. "The Arctic is warming rapidly, making it harder for polar bear mothers to raise their cubs," Executive Director of Polar Bears International Krista Wright said. "This International Polar Bear Day, we invite the world to take action to protect these vulnerable families—polar bears are an indicator of the Arctic's health, and the Arctic affects us all."Original article source: See it: Rare footage shows polar bear cubs emerging from Arctic den
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
See the first moments when 3 polar bear cubs emerge from their den
It's a big world out there, especially for polar bear cubs emerging from their dens. An international team of researchers observed these special first steps thanks to nearly a decade of camera footage taken in remote Svalbard, Norway. The footage and its implications for polar bear conservation are detailed in a study published February 27 (International Polar Bear Day) in the Journal of Wildlife Management. Mother bear with three cubs. Recorded using a remote camera as part of the maternal den research in Svalbard, Norway with Polar Bears International, the Norwegian Polar Institute, and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. CREDIT: Polar Bears International / Norwegian Polar Institute / San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Polar bear mothers in the Arctic generally give birth in early January around the start of the new year. The cubs are born completely blind, do not have their signature snow-colored fur, and generally weigh about one pound. After they are born, they begin to grow rapidly, nursing on milk that's about 31 percent fat. By the time they are ready to leave the den in the spring, they are up to 20 times bigger than they were at birth. The cubs begin to emerge from their birthing den sometime between February and April each year. The duration of the 'denning period,' the timing of when they come out of their dens, and the time spent at the den site after emergence can all impact the survival of polar bear cubs. Polar Bears International believes that fewer than 50 percent of cubs survive to adulthood. 'Polar bear mothers are having increasing difficulties reproducing due to climate-driven changes, and are likely to face further challenges with the expansion of the human footprint in the Arctic,' Louise Archer, a study co-author and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto Scarborough, said in a statement, 'We're excited to introduce new tools to monitor bears during this vulnerable time and to gain insight into their behavior across the Arctic, so that we can work to protect cubs and therefore the species. Every den we monitored had its own story, every data point adds to our understanding of this crucial time and supports more effective conservation strategies.' In this new study, female polar bears in Svalbard–an archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole–were fitted with GPS satellite collars. The devices recorded their location, activity levels, and body temperatures. The team then used the collar data to pinpoint where the dens were located. The team then trekked into Svalbard's mountains and set up timelapse cameras at 13 den sites from 2016 through 2020 and in 2023. The data from these cameras complemented the satellite tags with more detailed insights into maternal den behavior. The satellite collars are still accurate, but are more useful for monitoring the bears over extended periods and in more remote areas. The video footage and satellite tag data revealed some important behavioral information. Families emerged around March 9th in Svalbard and seemed to abandon the den earlier than previously observed in this population. More monitoring is needed to see if this is a trend, but changing the timing of denning could jeopardize cub survival since they have less time to develop before traveling to the sea ice. In some instances, the bears also emerged from the den for less than a minute before they went back inside. Other outings lasted several hours. As far as permanently leaving the den, the footage indicated that polar bears stay near their dens for an average of 12 days, but it varied between the families from two to 31 days. Additionally, some of the moms switched dens. They were observed leaving their original dens and then moving their family to a new den. The cubs also rely heavily on their mothers. They were only seen without their moms 5 percent of the time. Cubs in Svalbard generally depend on their mothers for up to 2.5 years. [ Related: How do polar bears keep ice off their fur? Grease.] According to the team, this combination of collar data and timelapse cameras show unique insights into very important denning behavior. Continued monitoring and the protection of known denning areas could help ensure the survival of future generations. 'This study provides a rare glimpse into one of the most vulnerable and critical periods in a polar bear's life, offering insights that can help guide our collective conservation efforts,' Megan Owen, Vice President of Wildlife Conservation Science at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, said in a statement. 'By combining innovative technology with long-term research, we're gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges polar bear moms and cubs face in a rapidly changing Arctic. Protecting denning habitats is essential for population health, and this study provides invaluable insights that will help guide protective management.'
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Relay for Life to kick off in Kansas City Tuesday night
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Tuesday evening, you have the opportunity to get involved in fighting cancer. The American Cancer Society is kicking off Relay for Life Tuesday, and they want you to get involved. Kansas City Zoo hosts early International Polar Bear Day celebration It all started 40 years ago, when a Tacoma, Washington, man decided to walk for 24 hours straight to raise money for cancer research. The money raised in Kansas City stays here to help pay for lodging and transportation for cancer patients, as well as cancer research. View the latest headlines from Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas at Ashton Wells, the Associate Director of American Cancer Society KC said Tuesday's kickoff is a way to get more people involved. 'Tonight is so important because it's an opportunity for people to come together, to learn more about the events, and the impact of the American Cancer Society in the community to see how we're really reaching cancer patients in our community,' Wells said. The kickoff is at Chicken and Pickle in North Kansas City. There will be free appetizers and soda. FOX4's Matt Stewart is the emcee. All are invited to attend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
