Study polar bears for British Science Week

Visitors to the award-winning Yorkshire Wildlife Park are being offered the chance of taking part in a mass research project on polar bears.

The study, part of British Science Week, is designed to collect data on the four polar bears who live at the innovative park.

The park’s 10-acre Project Polar Reserve is home to Victor, Pixel, Nissan and Nobby and they have become favourites with visitors.

The park, at Branton, near Doncaster, is a leading light in animal welfare and is also part of an international campaign to ensure the survival of polar bears, whose Arctic habitat is declining because of global warming.

“It’s an interesting and fun project and we hope the data collected will help improve polar bear welfare around the world,” said YWP director Cheryl Williams.

“It’s a great way for youngsters to get more involved in science. We’ve invited schools to take part but any visitor can record their input.”

Visitors are asked to observe the YWP polar bears and record a range of activities and conditions via a link and QR code to a special data collection page.

The questions are aimed at monitoring atmospheric conditions and polar bear activity and will be used to map behavior patterns and feed into international research studies.

British Science Week, which runs this week, is an annual event to encourage more people to get involved in scientific activities at grass roots level. This project has also provided another perfect opportunity for schools to get actively involved in STEM a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

YWP, the UK’s number one walk through attraction, offers visitors the chance to come almost face to face with some of the world’s most beautiful and at risk species.

As well as the Polar Bears the unique animal collection includes rare Black Rhinos, Amur Leopards and Tigers, Lions, Giraffes, and many more.

The park puts welfare and conservation at the heart of all its activities and raises funds for welfare and conservation projects around the world with the Yorkshire Wildlife Park Foundation.

Since opening in 2009 YWP has become the UK’s fastest growing and most innovative wildlife attractions - offering families an entertaining and educational day out.