This ice bear seems particularly chilled, so we leave him in peace and trundle on across the saturated landscape, more water than land it seems (an appropriate haunt of Ursus maritimus). Other wildlife found here includes arctic fox, caribou and snowy owls. The tundra yields its natural treasures slowly though. It’s another hour before we encounter more bears.
The first is sleepy and secretive, barely visible in a birch thicket. But the other two, a young male and an older male with a full Roman nose, are out in the open. The youngster ambles towards a Tundra Buggy and gives it a good once-over, gnawing a tyre, checking out the suspension and straining upright on his hindlegs to sniff at the tourists who are craning over the outdoor viewing platform at the rear.
When this loses its novelty, he returns to the older bear and gets him riled enough to have a play fight, both bears taking swipes at each other, standing up in face-offs and baring teeth. The older bear uses his massive weight and height advantage to keep the youngster at arm’s length, but after 10 minutes or so he’s clearly bored with such juvenile behaviour and finds himself a quiet patch of scrub to hide in.
The younger bear redirects his attention to the tundra buggies, this time ambling over to ours. He rears up and places two massive paws on the side of the viewing platform and, for a brief moment, I am staring into the eyes of a wild polar bear, his black muzzle snuffling a few feet below me.
New! Polar Bear Photo Safari
Accompanied by professional photographer Robert Taylor 5-10 November 2014
Visit our website for details.
Know your three bears
- Polar bear
At home on the tundra and sea ice of the coastal Arctic, but very good swimmers, using webbed front paws.
- Brown bear
Varies in colour from blond to black and can weigh up to 450kg. Diet includes berries, grasses, salmon and rodents.
- American black bear
Mainly found in forests, but highly adaptable, even venturing near cities; cubs leave winter dens Apr-May.
ICELAND • POLAR • AUSTRALIA • SWEDEN • NEW ZEALAND • CANADA • FINLAND • ALASKA • NORWAY
Page 16 - Cloud9 Travel Magazine - July 2013 Edition - Discover the World
Talk to the experts ✆ 01737 218 812 | Share on FACEBOOK | Share on TWITTER | Pin it on PINTEREST
Discover the World, Arctic House, 8 Bolters Lane, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 2AR