When Don Moore, associate director of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, began working with polar bears in Canada in 2000 few foresaw how climate change would impact the bears, their Arctic habitat, and the human inhabitants of the region.
The bears that Moore studied are part of a dwindling species that now numbers fewer than 20,000 in the wild. Their habitat depends on sea ice, and climate change has threatened their survival and that of a growing number of other Arctic species.
As an animal behaviorist, wildlife biologist, and educator, Moore is passionate about climate change and how people can take action to help reduce global warming so that all Arctic animals can survive. He has brought the Smithsonian together with groups including the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and Polar Bears International in initiatives to educate others about the causes and consequences of climate change.
Moore’s presentation centers on endangered-bear management and its relation to climate change, and how increasing our awareness (and action) in the face of increasing global temperatures can help conserve natural habitats and the animals whose lives depend on them.
Other Connections
Discover the dramatic natural world of Iceland and Greenland during a cruise, In the Wake of the Vikings.
Visit the Smithsonian Journeys page to see European trips.
