Polar Bear Tourism Returns to Kaktovik

0:00Every late summer polar bears swarmed the barrier islands off Cactavik, a tiny Alaska native village in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. They feast on whale remains from local hunters while waiting for sea ice to form. This drew up to 1,000 tourists yearly for what folks called last chance tourism, spotting these icons before climate change seals their fate. The boom kicked off after federal officials listed polar bears as threatened in 2008 as Arctic warming melts their hunting grounds. But COVID and a government ban on boat tours killed the industry, easing pressure on the village that owns hundreds of square miles around it. Locals got fed up with outsiders overwhelming flights for medical trips, gawking in yards and snapping pics during sacred whaling without asking. Hotels and eateries lost big cash and bears started losing their fear of humans, hiking risks after a fatal attack killed a woman and her. 10-year-old son elsewhere in Alaska in 2023.

1:01Now Cactavik leaders are negotiating with wildlife officials to restart tours by 2027, stressing safety first. They want caps on boat time near bears to keep them wild, plus community rules to protect traditions and avoid town wanderings. Reviving this ride could pump millions into the economy, teach visitors about a new pia culture and balance wild wonders with real respect for the land and its guardians. Canada News Today, powered by AI Bringing You What Matters, I'm Corey with The Story.