A polar bear near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada

© Alberto Ghizzi Panizza/Minden Pictures

A polar bear near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada

In October and November, many polar bears descend on Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, where they wait for Hudson Bay to freeze before heading out onto the ice to hunt for ringed seals. Tourism has flourished in the town as a result, with people flocking to see the charismatic white giants arrive. They’ve become such a draw that Churchill now bills itself as the Polar Bear Capital of the World. If the tourists are lucky, they may even spy a polar bear striking a perfect yoga pose, like our friend here. February 27 is International Polar Bear Day, an observance created to educate the public about this predator’s crucial role in its Arctic habitat, and the effects of melting polar ice on the polar bear’s future.