Press Digest 26th March 2007

As Gordon Brown pays lip service to ‘green issues’ in his 2007 budget by cranking up the road tax on gas-guzzling 4x4s and scrapping stamp duty on new carbon neutral homes, many will say he hasn’t gone far enough. With the effects of global warming already having an impact on Canada’s Polar Bear population, Wildlife Worldwide’s 8-day holidays offer some of the best opportunities to view Polar Bears in their threatened icy hunting grounds of the Canadian Arctic. Heathrow departures are available on 14th 21st & 28th October and 4th November 2007.

The future of the bears is inextricably linked to that of the Arctic Ice-Cap. As the bear’s natural sea-ice hunting ground takes longer to form and lasts for a shorter season, so bears’ breeding condition is reduced, leading in the immediate future to increase in bear/human conflict and in the long term to potential extinction of the species.
On arrival in Winnipeg travellers spend a night at the Hotel Fort Gary before heading out to Churchill on the edge of Hudson Bay. From here, a tundra-buggy transfer, wildlife viewing along the way, takes guests to Tundra Lodge, a remarkable mobile hotel placed in an area of high bear density at the beginning of each Polar Bear season. An evening presentation on Polar Bears further provides an excellent orientation to the local habitat. Tundra Lodge allows wonderful opportunities for viewing bears and other wildlife, being located two hours journey from the township. Guests should have magnificent wildlife photo opportunities and quite often the chance to see displays of the Northern Lights. The tour concludes after a final day amongst the bears on a tundra buggy before returning to Winnipeg for another overnight stay at the Hotel Fort Garry before flying home.

The tour costs from £3,750 p/p (November departures) including scheduled international flights from Heathrow, hotel and wildlife lodge accommodation with most meals, transfers and expertly guided Polar Bear viewing.