MANIT BA

NEWS
SERVICE

INFORMATION SERVICES BRANCH
ROOM 29, LEGISLATIVE BUILDING
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA R3C 0V8
PHONE: (204) 944-3746

February 1, 1980

DATE:

POLAR BEAR RESEARCH
PERMIT IS ISSUED
Wildlife Experts Will
Ensure 'Humane' Study
Natural Resources Minister Brian Ransom has issued a permit to Dr. Nils Oritsland
of the University of Oslo to study the effects of crude oil on the ability of polar bears
to maintain their body temperature.
The study is financed and sponsored by the federal Department of Indian and
Northern Affairs. But because it involves wild animals within Manitoba, a provincial
permit is required.
Mr. Ransom said the permit is for a revised version of a project which he
ordered suspended in December, 1978, as a result of public concern. At that time he
stated he wanted to review the necessity of the research and its methodology. The
evaluation by the project sponsor has resulted in the project being revised to eliminate
both the feeding of oil to the bears and the necessity of killing any bears to conduct
necropsies.
The revised experiments will be conducted under the supervision of a newlyformed "Polar Bear Care Committee," which will ensure the safe and humane treatment of
the bears during the research. The committee -- the first of its kind in Canada -- will
advise the Manitoba director of wildlife and the Canadian Council on Animal Care on
trapping, drugging, handling, holding and surgical procedures related to the polar bear
research.
Committee members include W. Davidson, general manager of the Winnipeg Humane
Society; Dr. Frank Juck of the University of Manitoba's veterinary laboratory;
Dr. Eric Broughton, veterinarian with the Canadian Wildlife Service; Paul Watts of the
Polar Bear Project at Churchill and Dr. Merlin Shoesmith of the Manitoba Wildlife Branch.
The experiments will involve two studies:
. A fur insulation study, in which the hides of two polar bears will be used
to measure the heat flow through fur when soaked in light, medium and heavy oils. The
hides are from nuisance bears that had to be destroyed for the safilty of Churchill
residents.
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POLAR BEAR RESEARCH

. A heat balance study, in which four polar bears will be introduced to a
large tank containing seawater with aged oil floating on the surface. Researchers
will measure the change in metabolic rate through surgically-implanted temperaturesensative transmitters. Following the study the bears will be cleansed of oil and
released on sea ice.
It is because the Churchill area and adjoining coastline are the summer
residence for some 800 to 1,200 polar bears that it has become a focal point for
international research on the animals.
The new studies on effects of oil are being undertaken because a major
oil spill or blowout in Canada's Arctic would harm polar bears. The effect of oil
on bears is not known, and is considered crucial if scientists are to minimize the
consequences to polar bears should such an accident occur.

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