WINNIPEG – There is no better place to celebrate International Polar Bear Day than at the Assiniboine Park Zoo and they are dedicating an entire weekend to learning about polar bears.

“International Polar Bear Day brings awareness to the impacts of climate change on polar bears, specifically on the sea ice they depend on for their survival,” said Grant Furniss, Senior Director of Animal Care and Conservation. “This weekend is a great opportunity for Zoo visitors to learn all about these amazing animals and what they can do to support research and conservation efforts and reduce their own environmental impact at home and in their communities.“

Weekend activities will kick off on Saturday morning with Breakfast with the Bears at the Tundra Grill from 9:00 am – 11:00 am. Visitors are invited to enjoy a delicious breakfast, a polar bear Zoo Chat (10:30 am), and views of the Zoo’s largest polar bear habitat. The polar bears will be presented with some breakfast treats of their own right outside the floor to ceiling viewing windows. Breakfast must be purchased separately.

In addition, the following activities will be offered on both Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24:

Tundra Grill

· 10:30 am – Polar Bear Zoo Chat – learn about the bears, polar bear behaviour, and how they are perfectly adapted to thrive in our Winnipeg winters.

· 10:00 am to 3:00 pm – Chocolate Glitter Poop Sale.

Gateway to the Arctic | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

· Kids Craft Station – create a polar bear friendship bracelet and learn about the environmental impact of the textile industry.

· Photo Station – take a polar bear selfie with some fun props.

· Research Station – meet members of our Conservation and Research team, check out research artifacts (polar bear tags, lab samples, glitter poop, and a footprint cast from a polar bear) and learn all about our Zoo research projects.

· Bear Buttons – with a donation, make or take a button featuring one of our polar bears. Proceeds support the Polar Bear Rescue & Care Team.

· Enrichment Station – learn how our Animal Care team keeps our bears busy. Play with puzzle feeders, polar bear toys, and see how much a bucket of polar bear food weighs.

There’s more!

· Visit the Seasonal Exhibit Area between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm and have some wintery fun with jam pail curling, snow sculpture carving, smooshing skis and toboggan pulls.

· Stop in at Wild Things Unique Gifts and bid on a one-of-a-kind painting by Baffin the polar bear. Auction closes February 28. Proceeds support the Polar Bear Rescue & Care Team.

PHOTO CREDIT – assiniboinepark.ca