The Polar Bears of Kaktovik
Kaktovik is on the Northern coast of Barter Island, Alaska. It is the only Native village within the 19.6 million acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Kaktovik is home to fewer than 250 people, who are mostly Inupiat Eskimos. But in the late summer and early fall, Kaktovik also hosts an estimated 15-20% of the Beaufort Sea polar bears as the Inupiats share their fat laden whale catch with the bears. As the Arctic continues to melt, the special relationship between the Inupiats and the polar bears is critical to the bear's health and survival.
Join Jennie Gosche´, founder of Polar Bear Pals®, and polar bear photographer, for an exhibit of some of her photographs from a recent trip to Kaktovik. She will provide a presentation about the Alaskan polar bears and the impact of climate change as experienced by people and polar bears in Kaktovik. All of the framed photos will be for sale. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Alaskan wildlife and environmental conservation organizations.
A presentation of Polar Bear Pals®, founded in 2012, to provide community education to raise awareness and increase action to help polar bears and protect the Arctic.