Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

Churchill, in Northern Manitoba, Canada is known as the polar bear capital of the world.  Built in the middle of a polar bear migration route on the shores of Hudson Bay, bear-viewing is the basis for a multi-million dollar tourist industry. 

Each year between August and November, bears congregate as they wait for the waters to freeze so they can take to the ice and hunt seal.  At this time of year, the small community of Churchill plays host to up to 15,000 tourists.  With such a density of bears and people, an intensive management programme has been introduced to protect both the bears and the people.  This involves relocating many of the bears away from the area.  Occasionally, orphaned cubs are found within the ‘control zone’ of Churchill.  In the past, wildlife managers have had little option other than to either euthanize these orphans or place them in a zoo.  Now, working with Manitoba Conservation, Born Free is trying to develop a protocol that will allow these orphans to be united with a surrogate family, therefore giving them the second chance of a life in the wild.  As of September 2006, the success rate has been 25% and a review of the protocol is currently under way.