Frontiers North Adventures and Polar Bears International are marking their 25th year as official partners. Together, they’ve established a model for how tourism operators and conservation scientists can collaborate to protect endangered wildlife and their ecosystems.
The partnership traces back to Churchill’s polar bear conservation movement. Polar Bears International began in 1992 when wildlife photographers and enthusiasts formed a grassroots organization to champion the species.
Since then, the relationship has grown into a full effort linking scientific research with ethical travel experiences. Frontiers North has invested over $5.7 million CAD, both financially and through in-kind support, to fund Polar Bears International’s fieldwork, education initiatives, and community outreach.
Conservation Through Collaboration
The alliance promotes what it calls “transformational tourism”, an approach where visitors actively engage with conservation experts, leaving with both knowledge and motivation to address climate change.
Financial contributions flow directly back into local conservation programs. Revenue from Frontiers North expeditions sustains Polar Bears International’s on-the-ground efforts in Churchill, including habitat protection and human-bear conflict resolution.
Key initiatives under this partnership include the Global Educational Outreach program, Polar Bear Cams, and the Climate Alliance. The alliance launched free live Tundra Connections broadcasts in 2009, streaming scientists and polar bears from the Arctic directly into classrooms worldwide.
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Measurable Results
Polar Bear Cams originated as a two-year test project led by Frontiers North before expanding into a full partnership. Now, through explore.org, over two million viewers annually watch live polar bear footage from the tundra.
For more than two decades, Frontiers North has offered Polar Bears International dedicated facilities at the Tundra Buggy Lodge, including lodging and transportation. This supports the Climate Alliance’s training for Arctic Ambassador Center representatives, a network of zoos and aquariums reaching over 200 million visitors yearly, to amplify climate advocacy.
In 2025, the partnership introduced a new upgrade: replacing the original Tundra Buggy One with a custom zero-emission electric vehicle. Powered by hydroelectricity, the new model operates silently in freezing conditions, minimizing disturbance to polar bears while proving electric vehicles can function in extreme environments.
Looking Back on the Partnership
Krista Wright, Executive Director of Polar Bears International, stated: “This alliance has had an incredible impact. The Tundra Buggies provide us with a unique opportunity to bring polar bears to people around the world through programs like our Polar Bear Cams and Tundra Connections webcasts.”
For additional details, visit www.pbears.org/frontiersnorth.