The Polar Bear Catastrophe

Polar bears are truly majestic animals: the largest land-dwelling carnivore on earth, these white-furred, black-skinned giants can measure up to three meters in length and weigh up to fifteen hundred pounds. They are also iconic in other ways. They are a symbol of the climate change debate, with their survival now threatened by the loss of Arctic ice, and their images decorate fountains and the cornices of buildings across the world. They sell cold drinks. They feature in children's books, on merry-go-rounds, and under the arms of weary toddlers heading for bed. Their pelts were once highly prized by hunters, and live captures became attractions in zoos and circuses. Stuffed bears still haunt museums and stately homes.

Every autumn, polar bears gather on the shores of Canada's Hudson Bay, waiting for the sea ice to form so they can begin their winter hunt. Right in their path lies the community of Churchill, Manitoba, where, for two months a year, locals have to share their home with the world's largest terrestrial carnivore. Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan heads north at the peak of bear season to discover what life is really like in the tiny town that has become known as the 'polar bear capital of the world'.

Every autumn, polar bears gather on the shores of Canada's Hudson Bay, waiting for the sea ice to form so they can begin their winter hunt. Right in their path lies the community of Churchill, Manitoba, where, for two months a year, locals have to share their home with the world's largest terrestrial carnivore. Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan heads north at the peak of bear season to discover what life is really like in the tiny town that has become known as the 'polar bear capital of the world'. Gordon goes on patrol with the town's polar bear cops, works alongside the bin men who have to dodge bears every day at the dump and meets a young woman who was mauled by a bear, right on the main street.

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