The Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat in northern Ontario is likely one of the most finest locations in Ontario to witness these fascinating animals up shut.
Constructed upon an vital buying and selling route for Indigenous Peoples in northern Ontario, the city of Cochrane, Ontario, is as far north as many individuals in Ontario dare to enterprise.
This former stopover for fur merchants making their strategy to the city of Moose Manufacturing unit on the southern shores of Hudson Bay has advanced as a necessary transit hub the place items from Ontario’s most populated province can attain the one saltwater gateway within the province.
Right here, on this city of simply over 5,000 residents, guests can come face-to-face with the world’s largest land predator on the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat.
My household has a gentle obsession with these lovely animals. C and I first noticed them up shut whereas visiting Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean in Quebec, whereas D and I visited the bears on the Assiniboine Zoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba. However none of that in contrast with our expertise seeing wild polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba.
Though the polar bears on the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat can’t survive within the wild, seeing them up shut was no much less of a thrill. The boys beloved the possibility to expertise them swimming of their swimming pools. Even watching the biggest one chow down on a moose leg was a (gory) thrill.
Of the entire polar bears (outdoors of Churchill), the Polar Bear Habitat gave us the perfect instance of polar bears having fun with their habitat within the Boreal forest.
What Is The Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat?
The Polar Bear Habitat in Cochrane, Ontario, is the biggest facility on this planet devoted solely to the rehabilitation and care of polar bears.
Via stringent conservation strategies and participation in vital conservation initiatives, the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat has grow to be probably the most fascinating locations to go to and study these fascinating animals.
Whereas the Ontario polar bears are the prime focus of this unimaginable facility, the habitat has additionally constructed infrastructure to help the mass of vacationers that go to Cochrane annually, whether or not or not it’s to discover the Polar Bear Habitat, wander the city of Cochrane itself, or take the well-known “Polar Bear Categorical” prepare to the northernmost factors of Ontario within the cities of Moosonee and Moose Manufacturing unit on the shores of the Hudson Bay.
Together with the 5 polar bear enclosures that home three male bears, the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat additionally encompasses a heritage village full with turn-of-the-century vehicles, buildings, schoolhouses, a kids’s playground, and a classic snowmobile museum.
The Cochrane Polar Bears
Three polar bears reside on the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat. None of those three bears can survive within the wild and depend on the care of the skilled crew on the habitat to outlive.
The three bears are all wholesome males, and all placed on fairly a present for us after we visited whereas driving the Boreal Route street journey via Ontario Parks corresponding to Kap Kig Iwan and Fushimi Lake.
Ganuk an 11-year-old male, was born on the Zoo Sauvage de Saint-Félicien, the identical park that C and I had visited in Saguenay, Quebec.
Henry is an 8-year-old male who hails all the way in which from the Gold Coast of Australia. He had weaned from his mom and was starting to claim his independence, so wanted a secure place to go the place he would have his personal house.
Inukshuk is the oldest polar bear in Cochrane, Ontario. At 18 years of age is closing into senior standing. He was born within the wild close to Fort Severn, Ontario however was deserted at simply three months of age. He was transferred to the Toronto Zoo for 2 years to get the care that he wanted to outlive his infancy earlier than transferring to the Polar Bear Habitat, the place he has remained till now.
The bears stay in a 24-acre habitat the place they’ve the liberty to swim, sleep, eat, and play. Through the summer season months, they are usually much less lively, spending their time within the cool shade of the timber or bathing within the swimming pools unfold all through their enclosures.
The enclosure contains the world’s largest enclosed lake. This particular characteristic gives a pure frozen ice platform for the bears for as much as seven months of the 12 months.
The bears are at their most lively in the course of the fall and winter when the cool climate fits their pure life. As we realized in Churchill, Manitoba, Polar Bears in Canada are likely to spend their summers within the shade of the Boreal forest earlier than migrating to the shores in the course of the late summer season to attend for the ocean ice to kind for seal searching.
As a result of their freedom of motion, there isn’t any assure that every of the polar bears will likely be seen throughout a go to; we had been in a position to go to all three of the Cochrane polar bears. There are additionally informational shows, a viewing room with nice pool views, keeper talks, and an opportunity to satisfy the animal care workers.
Extra Issues To Do At The Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat
Whereas the Cochrane polar bears are most positively the star attraction of the Polar Bear Habitat in Cochane, Ontario, it’s in no way the place the enjoyable ends right here. There’s a nice vary of implausible issues to do a the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat to make it a vacation spot worthy of a full-day journey.
Traditional Classic Snowmobile Museum
As is predicted in a northern Ontario group, snowmobiles have performed a vital function within the lives and companies of the Cochrane group.
The Cochrane Traditional Classic Snowmobile Museum explores the historical past of the city’s relationship with snowmobiles from the Nineteen Fifties to the current day. Greater than 100 classic snowmobiles are displayed, from racers to non-public sleds.
It’s the biggest museum of its variety in Ontario. And what higher place to show them than the location of the world’s very first snowmobile dealership? The truth is, Cochrane is thought for having among the finest snowmobile trails in Ontario.
Heritage Village
Exploring the city of Cochrane, Ontario, it’s laborious to consider that it was integrated simply over 100 years in the past in 1910. To expertise what was as soon as northern Ontario’s frontier city, make a cease on the Polar Bear Habitat’s heritage village.
This immersive village offers guests a glimpse into the lifetime of Cochrane residents within the early twentieth century. It contains an array of reproduction buildings, together with a trappers cabin, a faculty, a ironmongery shop, a storage, and a blacksmith store.
Playground
These visiting the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat with youngsters will recognize the implausible, multi-story playground positioned within the Heritage Village. This enjoyable and adventure-filled playground has slides, climbing areas, monkey bars, and extra that provide an effective way for youths to burn off vitality on a northern Ontario street journey.
Tenting
We had been pleasantly stunned to search out that there was tenting on the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat. The park has tenting choices for tents, RVs, and campers.
The Cochrane campsites don’t have electrical energy, however there’s entry to dumping amenities and potable water accessible. Though the city doesn’t allow open fires, the usage of propane BBQs and fuel stoves are permitted.
Would You Go to The Polar Bears in Cochrane, Ontario?
The Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat is open seven days per week. Proceeds from ticket and merchandise gross sales enhance care packages for the Cochrane polar bears. You possibly can go to their web site for extra info on their packages and admissions.
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