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You are here: Home / Destinations / Take a Journey to Churchill at the Assiniboine Park Zoo

Take a Journey to Churchill at the Assiniboine Park Zoo

09/14/16 | Canada, Destinations, Manitoba, North America


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One of the things I want to do in my life is to go see the polar bears in Churchill in Northern Manitoba. With my adversity to cold (I know, I make a terrible Canadian, but in my defense, it doesn’t get cold in Vancouver!), and the cost of getting to Churchill in the middle of winter, it just hasn’t happened yet. Until then, visiting the Journey to Churchill exhibit at the Assiniboine Park Zoo allowed me to get my polar bear obsession fulfilled.

Journey to Churchill Welcome Sign, Assiniboine Zoo, Winnipeg, Manitoba | packmeto.com

The Journey to Churchill exhibit is the most comprehensive northern species exhibit in the world featuring polar bears, muskoxen, Arctic fox, wolves and other northern species. Spreading across 10 acres, the exhibit takes you from the Wapusk Lowlands to the tundra of the Arctic. While I was able to spot a few snowy owls, much of the animals in this area were hidden.

Snowy Owl, Assiniboine Zoo, Winnipeg, Manitoba | packmeto.com

Hedwig, is that you? (Spoiler: no)

To complete the experience, the zoo has recreated parts of the Churchill facade down to the “polar bear jail” that the real Churchill uses to house polar bears that wander too close to the city until they can be released back into the wild.

Churchill facade, Assiniboine Zoo, Winnipeg, Manitoba | packmeto.com

The white building in the back is the “polar bear jail”

Gateway to the Arctic

This exhibit is where the magic happens: the primary viewing point of the zoo’s polar bears as they wander through their vast habitat. Home to seven polar bears, there are a number of viewing points as well as an underwater viewing passage to watch them swim. For their size, it’s incredible how graceful they are underwater. I definitely spent way more time that I should have just watching them move and sunbath.

Underwater Passage, The Journey to Churchill at Assiniboine Zoo, Winnipeg, Manitoba | packmeto.com

Most of the polar bears were either orphaned cubs rescued from Churchill or brought here from other zoos when their mothers rejected them.

The Journey to Churchill exhibit, Assiniboine Zoo, Winnipeg, Manitoba | packmeto.com

Looking up! Assiniboine Zoo, Winnipeg, Manitoba | packmeto.com

Such huge paws!

One of the things I was concerned about was the temperature. Don’t polar bears need the cold? It was a hot day on my visit with temperatures rising above 30 C. I was told that weatherwise, Winnipeg and Churchill are quite similar and that the polar bears actually enjoyed the sun and its warmth. You can often find them sunbathing or doing what humans like to do when it’s hot – feet dipped in the water, body lounging in the sun. Of course, if they get too hot they have the option of going swimming or finding a shaded nook to hide in.

Sunbathing polar bear at the Assiniboine Zoo, Winnipeg, Manitoba | packmeto.com

Half in, half out

Sunbathing polar bear at Assiniboine Zoo, Winnipeg, Manitoba | packmeto.com

Chillin’ on some rocks

Next to the polar bears are the seals which loved interacting with visitors. Wave a hat around and they will track and follow it. The numerous school groups that were visiting had a blast running around with the seals. It was so cute to watch.

Beyond the animals, there are numerous displays discussing climate change and conservation. The Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre highlights these issues as well as discusses what you can do to reduce your footprint. Also in the centre are two orphaned polar bear cubs, York and Eli, who were rescued from Churchill. They would not have survived on their own with the guidance and protection of their mother.

Feeding polar bear cub, Assiniboine Zoo, Winnipeg, Manitoba | packmeto.com

Feeding time! Trying to get the cub to lie down

My visit was well timed as I was able to watch the two cubs be fed and trained. While cute as a button, polar bears are dangerous creatures even as cubs. The trainers only interacted with the cubs through the safety of a fence and communicated with each other during the whole process.

Polar bear cub training, Assiniboine Zoo, Winnipeg, Manitoba | packmeto.com

Finally lying down

Polar bear cub training, Assiniboine Zoo, Winnipeg, Manitoba | packmeto.com

Now time to stand up!

Like a walk in the park

Zoos can be really hit or miss for me. I get really sad when I visit a zoo and find small areas for the animals and in general, I try to avoid these experiences. However, with over 80 acres, the Assiniboine Park Zoo isn’t about this at all. The zoo is in the middle of redevelopment and the majority of the animal enclosures are large with lots of room to roam. There is definitely still areas of improvement needed though as some of the enclosures outside of the Journey to Churchill exhibit were still quite small. For much of my visit, I just felt like I was on a stroll in the park with the occasional animal encounter.

Assiniboine Zoo, Winnipeg, Manitoba | packmeto.com

Especially the area for polar bears. There are so many viewpoints and so many hidden areas you can’t see from one side to another. Not to mention, I think I only saw three of the seven that were in the exhibit while the rest were hidden elsewhere.

Looking into the seal enclosure, Assiniboine Zoo, Winnipeg, Manitoba | packmeto.com

Looking into the seal enclosure. You can’t see the wall in the photo, but it’s there

Beyond just the sheer size of the enclosures, many of them are designed with no visible barriers so the animals can see and smell one another. A prime example is the Gateway to the Arctic exhibit where seals are housed right next to the polar bears with only a clear wall between them. In doing so, they create a dynamic and enriching environment for both species.

Assiniboine Zoo Entrance | packmeto.com

I was pleasantly surprised by my time in at the Assiniboine Park Zoo. I could not stop watching the polar bears and I probably asked too many annoying questions of my guide. There are a number of other areas to explore in the zoo, but due to time, I didn’t get a chance to fully explore them. If you’re as fascinated as I am by animals, but cannot get yourself to Churchill, I recommend the experience at the Journey to Churchill exhibit as a good replacement. It was a wonderful way to spend the morning and left me with a deeper understanding of a little-explored region of the world.

Assiniboine Park Zoo
2595 Roblin Boulevard, Winnipeg MB
Website

Tickets: Adults $19.75; Seniors (60+) $17.50; Youth (13-17) $17.50; Children (3-12) $10.50; Under 3 FREE
Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM daily (Summer March 25 – October 10, 2016); Gates close 4:30 pm

Do you have any desire to see the polar bears in Churchill? 

My experiences in this post were made possible in partnership with Tourism Winnipeg and the Assiniboine Park Zoo.

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Comments

  1. Cameron says

    September 17, 2016 at 9:56 AM

    Love polar bears! Would love to see them in the wild, though. It’s a real shame what is happening to them.

  2. Carol from Wayfaring Views says

    September 17, 2016 at 10:22 AM

    I know that many people don’t like zoos. But I do. They not only educate the public about at-risk animals (like the polar bears) but they also fund conservation work in the wild.

    • Adelina says

      September 22, 2016 at 10:51 AM

      I generally like them too especially from an educational perspective, but I have been to zoos that have left me really sad afterwards as well. Hard to know until you experience it for yourself.

  3. Beth | Adventuring the Great Wide Somewhere says

    September 18, 2016 at 12:00 PM

    This looks amazing! I especially love the underwater tunnel viewing. We have one here in Orlando featuring sharks and other sea life, but I’d love to watch the polar bears moving about as well! Until you make it up to Churchill, this seems like the perfect alternative! 🙂

  4. Brittany Thiessen says

    September 20, 2016 at 7:22 AM

    I live near Winnipeg and sadly, I still haven’t gotten around to visiting the zoo since they updated it with the Journey to Churchill exhibit!

    Your post makes me really want to go very soon. It looks beautiful!

    I am glad you enjoyed your time in Winnipeg.

    • Adelina says

      September 22, 2016 at 10:11 AM

      Definitely go if you get the chance! The polar bears are worth it.

  5. StreetTrotter says

    September 25, 2016 at 9:31 AM

    I loved the gateway to the Arctic bit! I would have spent most of my time too just to watch them sunbathe!

Welcome to Pack Me To!

Adelina is a part time traveler, exploring the world despite having a full-time job. Pack Me To is a collection of stories from her travels and adventures around the world as she packs you to destinations around the world with her.

Adelina has been traveling for as long as she can remember and has lived abroad in the Netherlands and Hungary. She loves telling stories, and eating and exploring her way around the world. Come along for the ride. Read More…

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