World-Class, First-of-its-Kind Research Conservation Centre to be Built:
Selinger

Polar-bear rehabilitation, research and public education will be the focus
of the first-of-its-kind, world-class International Polar Bear Conservation
Centre, Premier Greg Selinger said today during a snow-turning ceremony to
announce $1 million in provincial funding for the Assiniboine Park
Conservancy, the first part of a $31-million provincial commitment.

"This unique, innovative, state-of-the-art facility will combine a
rehabilitation area for orphaned polar-bear cubs with a research, academic
and public-education centre," said the premier.  "We congratulate and thank
the Assiniboine Park Conservancy and Polar Bears International for their
dedication to this project."

The $31-million provincial commitment will include $4.5 million for the
conservation centre and more than $26 million for construction of the
polar-bear arctic exhibit.

The premier was joined today at the official snow-turning ceremony at the
Assiniboine Park Zoo by Robert Buchanan, president and CEO of Polar Bears
International, and Don Streuber, vice-chair of the Assiniboine Park
Conservancy.

"Today, polar bears are being threatened by the rapid melting of the ice cap
and the time to act is now," said Streuber.  "I congratulate the Province of
Manitoba for taking the lead on this key initiative through the development
of the International Polar Bear Conservation Centre which, working in
partnership with Polar Bears International and the larger zoo community,
will make a difference and bring about real change."

"The International Polar Bear Conservation Centre will help the public make
a strong emotional connection with polar bears that will help motivate them
to save this iconic species," said Buchanan.  "If we save polar bears, we'll
also save frogs, birds, butterflies and, ultimately, people and the planet."

Assiniboine Park Conservancy will renovate the existing polar- and
black-bear enclosures for an orphaned polar-bear cub rescue centre.  The old
enclosures will be improved to meet provincial standards by increasing size,
enhancing security and creating enrichment experiences such as sand for
bears to dig and a shade and climbing structure.  There will also be an
improved divide between humans and the bears for bears to rehabilitate in an
environment that will improve their rehabilitation success.  Renovations
will begin this month and are scheduled be completed by the end of 2010. 

The province works closely with the Town of Churchill to promote polar bear
conservation through the co-operative Polar Bear Alert Program, which keeps
people and bears safe, while allowing the natural seasonal movements of the
bears along the coast of Hudson Bay, Selinger said.  This program, which
involves all of the people of Churchill, enables the highly valuable
polar-bear tourism experience that has done so much for the town and
province, and at the same time turned so many people from all over the globe
into advocates for polar bears, he added.

Further reading on this topic:

Work Set to Begin on Rescue Facility, June 7th 2010, Bartley Kives, Winnipeg Free Press