People for Polar Bear Habitat Charity

2020 UPDATE:  Thank you everyone for your support.  Your generosity is deeply appreciated.  In light of the Town's continued support of the Habitat for 2020 (but possibly not beyond) we will be ending this GoFundMe Campaign and ensuring that these funds are used to secure the Habitat's future.  You have all helped contribute to a future with polar bears.  Thank you.

UPDATE: The Town of Cochrane agreed on Dec. 10 to provide $400,000 in operational funding for the Habitat for the year 2020.  However, the future of the Habitat is still not secure, as council will reevaluate this support next year to determine if sufficient progress has been made.  Your help is still very much needed and appreciated.  All money raised through this campaign will go directly to the Habitat's charity and its mission.  


After a closed session on Nov. 5, the Town of Cochrane announced on Nov. 6 that it is seeking to close the Polar Bear Habitat with discussion from the public.

This announcement came as a surprise to the people of Cochrane and to the staff, board members, and volunteers of the Polar Bear Habitat alike.

The People for the Polar Bear Habitat feel that this is not a decision to be made lightly - certainly not in the course of a month - and that a much greater public discourse is needed regarding the Habitat's future.

The Town is hosting a public information session in the coming weeks, but town councillors will be voting on eliminating funding the Habitat in early December.  This does not provide time to implement other plans or explore other sources of funding. There are dedicated board members, staff members, volunteers, and other stakeholders absolutely willing to do this work now that we know it needs done.

The Habitat must continue its mission. It is host to a number of research studies that are vital to understanding the impact of climate change on wild polar bears.  These are studies than are not - and cannot - be done anywhere else in the world.  It provides a 24-acre home to polar bears who would not survive in the wild, all while working to improve the standard of care for polar bears in other facilities.

The Town's report states that the bears can be repatriated back to their former facilities, but the Species Survival Plan for Canadian Polar Bears states that all Canadian facilities are full.  Polar bears are barred from entering the United States by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.  It is possible that the polar bears at the Habitat would have to be sent overseas - a costly, stressful trip - or be euthanized.  

If you are looking to offer financial support to ensure that the Habitat can continue to operate without the support of the town, please consider making a contribution. The Town currently contributes approximately $400,000 annually to the Habitat. 

If you would like to offer support in another way, please connect with us via e-mail [email redacted] or on Facebook . https://www.facebook.com/peopleforpbh

Thank you!