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One Polar Bear for Every Five Citizens
These Dangerous Predators Are Now Permanent Guests in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada!
By Peter Baunmartner
The world polar bear population is estimated at 20,000 to 40,000. Of these, approximately 15,000 live in Canada. After the polar bear population had almost died out, hunting was severely restricted. Only the Inuit, as the Eskimos call themselves, are allowed to hunt 629 polar bears yearly for their own personal use. 
The females give birth to two or three cubs between November and February. The first weeks of life are spent in a den. The mother and cubs stay together for two and a half years during which time the mother protects the cubs, as best she can, from full-grown males. Males get to be as old as 20 years, females up to 25 years. The bears in captivity get to be as old as 40 years.
On our second Tundra Buggy Tour, the bears fall in love with us. At first, we witness an impressive wrestling match between two youngsters. Either one of them could kill the other without any trouble, but they are just playing. They come very close. With our telephoto lenses we are able to see their sharp teeth and massive claws.
And then we see a mother with two cubs about 10 months old. They have killed a bird and are chewing on their feathers. But as the mother sees a male approaching, she moves to protect her young quickly.
On the way back we witness the bears being flown out of the Polar Bear Compound. They are hanging in the helicopter net bringing them back to the Tundra as if they are dead. Hopefully they will not wake up until they are free.