Like last year’s Aurora, the scientists of Polar Bears International have collared a new polar bear for explore.org fans to track! An 8-year-old mom with a yearling cub, she’s been given the name X33410, a number that the research team will use when tracking her throughout her life. But we want you to give her a more personal – and memorable – name!
Every fall, polar bear scientists travel to Wapusk National Park in Manitoba, Canada, to monitor the western Hudson Bay polar bear population. They take size and weight measurements, and perform a census on the number of bears and cubs they see and catch. Some females get outfitted with GPS collars so they can be tracked throughout the year. The information gathered paints a picture of the lives of polar bears hunting out on the sea ice.
Learn how to use the Polar Bear Tracker in this short film by Polar Bears International.