A bronze polar bear sculpture by Manitoba artist Peter Sawatzky at the entrance to Assiniboine Park Zoo. (CHRISD.CA FILE)
Today is International Polar Bear Day and the Assiniboine Park Zoo has a weekend full of festivities planned to mark the occasion.
Visitors to the zoo can learn about the polar bear species, conservation, and what they can do to help.
“It’s important for us to celebrate this initiative and draw attention to the impacts of climate change on the Arctic and polar bears,” said Dr. Brian Joseph, director of zoological operations for the Assiniboine Park Zoo.
“Visitors will have a great time with all the extra activities but we also hope they will learn what they can do to help save polar bears and other endangered species.”
One of the highlights is an interactive art installation by local artist Kal Barteski, where the public can see how they measure up to the animals of Journey to Churchill while surrounded by conservation words and phrases.
Come see what I made for #InternationalPolarBearDay at @assiniboinezoo – let’s talk about why bears are awesome. pic.twitter.com/m1x9fdcnLi
— kal barteski (@kalbarteski) February 27, 2015
The first 500 visitors to the Zoo today, Saturday and Sunday will receive a Journey to Churchill collector’s pin. Free Journey tours will run Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
The zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For a full list of events happening, visit AssiniboineParkZoo.ca.
