The Churchill Northern Studies Centre, a project partner for much of our conservation work for understanding the changing Arctic. (Photo: C. Shuert)

The Conservation and Research Team at Assiniboine Park Conservancy (APC) has been working on a number of diverse conservation projects since 2011, both at the Zoo and in the field, while also engaging our community to raise awareness about wildlife and habitat protection. The team’s efforts have led to significant impacts, and with the refreshed 2024-2029 Conservation Strategy, we will focus our efforts on four key conservation themes. In the first of a series, we explore the theme of our conservation strategy called Understanding the Changing Arctic.

Climate change is one of the most significant challenges that animals, habitats, and communities face. The Arctic is warming at three times the rate compared to the rest of the globe and thus there is an urgency to understand these ecosystems and provide solutions to ensure their resilience.  Although we do not have jurisdiction in the north there is critical conservation science we can do and support that will assist northern communities and responsible organizations. We are building on our strong record of Arctic and subarctic conservation science over the past 10 years to continue to advance our understanding of Arctic animals, ecosystems, and changing climate. Not only do we work in the north, but we also have an opportunity to work with the Arctic species in our care here at the Zoo. The animals in our care can assist in the conservation of their wild counterparts and create connections between these incredible animals, our visitors, and the actions they can take. 

Mixed boreal and tundra plants found near Churchill, MB. (Photo: C. Shuert)

We have focused our efforts on a few signature projects which you may be familiar with: 

Polar Bears

A pair of polar bears interact near the Churchill Wildlife Management Area. (Photo: S. Petersen)

Polar bears are an iconic species symbolizing climate change’s impact on wildlife. At the Zoo, polar bears are a visitor favourite. Behind the scenes, they also often participate in projects that enhance our understanding of their wild counterparts or allow for the validation of new methods that can be used in the field to improve safety or reduce disturbance. We are currently leading research on polar bear denning by identifying climate risks to these critical habitats.  

Beluga Whales

A group of beluga whales follow the M/V Delphi, operated by our partners at Polar Bears International and Explore.org. (Photo: C. Shuert)

The Conservation and Research team is also dedicated to supporting beluga whale conservation through the Beluga Bits project. This initiative involves working with partners to collect valuable underwater data to track the health and behaviors of belugas. This is a long-term, non-invasive project that will contribute to their population assessments, detect emerging threats, and ensure healthy beluga populations in Hudson Bay. By engaging with the community and expanding research, the project helps to deepen our understanding of these iconic Arctic whales, promoting conservation efforts to protect them and their habitat for future generations. 

Arctic Seals

Ringed seals and Harbour seals are two important seal species that can be observed in Churchill and each is expected to respond differently to a warmer Arctic. Ringed seals are expected to do less well as they are highly adapted to sea ice habitat. Harbour seals are adapted to more temperate waters and likely will benefit from climate change. A collaborative team of researchers, including from APC and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, have been studying how harbour seals use both marine and freshwater environments in Churchill. Our research has shown that harbour seal numbers in the area have increased since the 1990s in step with reduced ice conditions. These data are also showing how harbour seals behave, move, and make a living in this changing ecosystem. 

A group of harbour seals rest in the Churchill River. (Photo: S. Petersen)

How to Join Our Efforts

We are very grateful to all the people, partners, and organizations who help us achieve our conservation goals. All research that the Conservation and Research team at APC participates in contributes to understanding and protecting our natural heritage.

We all can play a part in helping to halt and reverse climate change by looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint and encouraging your friends and family to join you. This can be an intimidating task but you are not alone. Here are three ways you can reduce your carbon footprint and support wildlife conservation:

1. Reduce the amount of single use plastic in your life. These plastics are often petroleum-based, take more energy to produce, and when thrown away are very hard to degrade and often hurt wildlife.    
2. Eat local and more plants. Not only will eating more plants help you (and your microbiome) be healthier, but it also reduces CO2 emissions compared to animal protein. When you do eat meat, look for local farmers or harvesters to supply you with supper. Local eats reduce transport emissions and keep Manitoba strong. 
3. Support organizations that are making a difference. This could be purchasing from companies that are trying to be carbon neutral or organizations who are working to protect species.

Thank you for supporting APC and through that supporting the critical activities of the Conservation and Research Department.