Polar Bears International is the only nonprofit with a sole focus on protecting polar bears and their sea ice habitat. A science-based charity registered in both Canada and the United States, the organization works across the circumpolar Arctic, partnering with Indigenous communities, governments, and other conservation organizations to safeguard one of the world’s most iconic and most climate-vulnerable species.
Polar Bears International pursues its mission through three integrated lines of work: research (including the Polar Bear Tracker, which uses satellite data to follow wild bears and link their movements to changing sea-ice conditions), education (with the free Tundra Connections webcasts and live Polar Bear, Beluga, and Northern Lights Cams streaming from Churchill, Manitoba), and action (media, advocacy, and direct support for climate solutions that protect the sea-ice ecosystem). The organization also offers immersive travel experiences to Svalbard, Norway and Churchill, Manitoba, allowing donors and supporters to see the work in the field.
Founded in 1992, Polar Bears International is funded by individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners, and was a 2024 recipient of the Ken Burns American Heritage Prize (Dr. Sylvia Earle).
