Fancy a dip? Well if you decide to take the plunge into this crystal blue water then you might get a little more than you bargained for.
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Peeking through the clear glass this giant 1,300 lb polar bear is the closest man will get to an apex predator without being its next meal.
The Polar Bear Habitat and Heritage Village in Cochrane, Ontario in Canada, is the only place in the world where humans can swim with polar bears.
Separated by a three-inch thick sheet of toughened glass which rises 8ft over the pool water level, curious swimmers can watch these magnificent animals swim, eat and play at alarmingly close quarters.
Project conservation director Patricia Morin, believes the experience is the most unique in the world.
“Swimming with the bears is unique as far as we know and an amazing success,” says the 24-year-old.
“Initially the bears are curious and come close to the glass to get a better look at the humans, but they take it very much in their stride.”
Indeed, they seem to observe people with a mixture of amusement and disdain. “It’s a unique and incredible experience,” Patricia says.
“Our old bears, Bisitek, and Nanook, love to swim or just stand and watch for hours. She isn’t hunting – just curious.
“Sometimes she jumps at the window which really scares the kids, but as far as she’s concerned it’s just play.
Weighing 950 lb., Nanook, a 27 year old male, is one of four polar bears at the habitat.
Together with Bisitek, a 28 year old female and seven year old twins, Aurora and Nikita, they have the freedom to laze, eat and swim.
It is a far cry from the wild environment these creatures would normally inhabit.
“Nanook is damn old bear that has lived a hard life moving from one substandard facility to the next,” says Patricia.
“He has had a long history of being in captivity. His mother was killed as a ‘problem bear’ in 1982 at the Polaris Mine on Cornwalls Island.
“As one of two baby cubs he was relocated to Calgary Zoo in 1983, but was so young that he never learnt how to hunt .
“But after his stay at Calgary Zoo he went onto live in series of often substandard facilities.
“Most of his teeth are worn down to stumps. This is not unusual for an old wild bear but for a captive bear it is an evidence of an unacceptable bear.
“This tells us that he has not had the proper food and veterinary care that he should have had from his previous custodians.
“He has adapted very well to the Habitat and is now considered fully rehabilitated.
“He understands that the zoo keepers look after him so he tells the keepers what he needs.
“At times he can be very bossy and the young female bears do not want to be around him – so they ask to separated for a while.”
The Habitat and Heritage Village is a non profit conservation facility and the only polar bear rehabilitation facility in the world.
The habitat specialises in rehabilitating non-releasable polar bears, like Nanook, from sub-standard zoos, circuses, private ownership, and the wild.
Animals are offered the most advanced bear husbandry techniques in the international captive animal community.
Once rehabilitated some bears are relocated but some, like Nanook and Bisitek, simply put their paws up and look forward to a long retirement.
It’s a hard life.
Words by Jack Fletcher
Pictures by Barry Bland / Barcroft Media
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