Science and Nature

The Great Polar Bear Feast

"The Great Polar Bear Feast" is the astonishing story of an annual natural phenomenon that occurs in early September on the north slope of the Arctic. Every year, up to 80 polar bears gather on the frozen shores of Barter Island, near the village of Kaktovik, to feast on the hunter-harvested bowhead whale remains.

The Great Polar Bear Feast

54m 41s

Every year, up to eighty polar bears gather on the frozen shores of Barter Island, near the village of Kaktovik, to feast on the hunter-harvested bowhead whale remains. This extraordinary gathering not only highly unusual, it turns dangerous as the whale bones are picked bare, and the huge group of polar bears heads for the town.

Episodes

  • The Great Polar Bear Feast: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Great Polar Bear Feast

    S1 E1 - 54m 41s

    Every year, up to eighty polar bears gather on the frozen shores of Barter Island, near the village of Kaktovik, to feast on the hunter-harvested bowhead whale remains. This extraordinary gathering not only highly unusual, it turns dangerous as the whale bones are picked bare, and the huge group of polar bears heads for the town.

Extras + Features

  • Gathering is a Challenge for Solitary Bears: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Gathering is a Challenge for Solitary Bears

    S1 E1 - 3m 7s

    Polar Bears and the Kaktovic community both feast on the Bowhead Whale. But the normally solitary bears must navigate a complex social scene as more than 80 now gather for the feed.

  • Scientific Feast For Polar Bear Studies: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Scientific Feast For Polar Bear Studies

    S1 E1 - 2m 54s

    Dr. Todd Atkins and his team from the U.S.G.S. are studying the rapid environmental change in the Southern Beaufort Sea, and its correlation to the declining health of the polar bear population of the area.

  • Polar Bears and Humans Are Dangerous Neighbors: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Polar Bears and Humans Are Dangerous Neighbors

    S1 E1 - 3m 3s

    The bone pile has been stripped bare. And with little to no food left, the bears head towards Kaktovic to scavenge for food under the cover of darkness. Residents start up night patrols to keep the bears out of town.

  • Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Preview

    S1 E1 - 30s

    Every year, up to eighty polar bears gather on the frozen shores of Barter Island, near the village of Kaktovik, to feast on the hunter-harvested bowhead whale remains. This extraordinary gathering not only highly unusual, it turns dangerous as the whale bones are picked bare, and the huge group of polar bears heads for the town.

Schedule

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