(ALMOST) FALL SALE

The sky isn't falling . . . 

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If you've ever wondered how our Leadership Camp for zookeepers

came about, meet Shane Good, outgoing president of the AAZK and a keeper at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Early on, Shane recognized that keepers could play a key role in motivating community projects on climate change.

Shane's vision led to an official partnership between PBI and AAZK with a focus on CO2 reduction efforts. He also sparked our first 

Zookeeper Leadership Camp

in 2009, where he volunteered as a facilitator. He's now immersed in planning for our 2011 camp. 

For a window into his world, visit the Keeper Leadership Camp Blog

on our website.

FLICKR PHOTO 

OF THE MONTH

SCIENTIST PROFILE

DR. MARTYN OBBARD

Ontario Ministry of

Natural Resources

We hear a lot about the

Western Hudson Bay polar bears, 

but what about the Southern Hudson Bay population?

Research by Martyn Obbard

is providing critical data on the effects of climate change on these southern cousins to Churchill's bears.

You can meet Marty and learn more about his findings in this short video.

Polar Bears on the Move . . .

In Search of Ice

As open water increases in the Arctic during the summer months, more and more polar bears are embarking on long, exhausting swims to reach the sea ice.

New data shows that this is taking a toll on polar bear families. On one marathon swim, a mother bear swam for nine days straight and 426 miles. In the process, she lost 22% of her body weight and her cub. 

Long swims are hard on adult polar bears, but even harder on cubs, scientists say, because they lack the body fat that helps adult bears in arctic waters.   |more  

What does a map of summer polar bear locations along Hudson Bay look like? Like a string of holiday lights

 along the shore.

A recent aerial survey of the western Hudson Bay coast revealed hundreds of polar bears--284, to be exact--lined up along the shore, waiting for winter's sea ice to return. The bears were forced off their seal-hunting grounds weeks earlier than normal this year due to an early July ice break-up.  

You can read about the importance of this research and see photos of the bears in their summer setting in our Scientists & Explorers blog. 

Reading list? Check. 

Long johns? Check.   

Humor and flexibility?Double check!

More than 40 students and facilitators are busy preparing for our Leadership Camps in October, where they'll immerse themselves in the polar bear's world and return with action plans and a mandate to, well, change the world.

The work begins months before camp starts, with assignments that provide participants with a solid grounding in polar bears and climate change--and encourage them to begin thinking about ways to inspire CO2 reductions in their communities. 

Join them as they prepare for their adventure by visiting our Leadership Camp blogs.

Arctic Species of the Month

Gliding above the tundra on silent wings, snowy owls rely on their keen senses to search for prey. 

Because 90% of their diet consists of lemmings, they're considered a barometer of a healthy tundra ecosystem

--just as polar bears reflect the health of the sea-ice habitat. 

Now here's something to cheer about: Ontario has developed initiatives to promote green energy solutions and plans to close all coal-powered generating stations in the province by 2014.

In honor of this extraordinary leadership, we presented the province with our prestigious Four Paws Award during a ceremony at the recent International Bear Association conference in Ottawa. 

Linda Jeffrey, Ontario's minister of natural resources, accepted the award on behalf of Premier Dalton McGuinty and the Province of Ontario.

"As the most southerly population in the species' range, Ontario's polar bears are among the first to show the effects of climate warming and the loss of sea ice," she said. "We're working hard to make sure our bears--and all other species--have a fighting chance."

Polar-bear-friendly kids are gearing up for school with supplies including recycled paper, biodegradable pencils, and lunch boxes made from recyclables. More and more schools are embracing a stewardship ethic, too--one that extends to lesson plans in the classroom. 

One such leader is Nichols School in Buffalo, New York.

Its Big Green Initiative is an effort to recycle, compost, reduce paper, conserve energy, and make green practices part of student life. In recognition of this leadership, the Buffalo Zoo, part of our Arctic Ambassador Center network, honored the school with our Paw of Approval Award. 

We say: Gold stars!