(MENAFNEditorial) Toronto, Feb. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On International Polar Bear Day, Feb. 27, students from more than 30 schools across Canada are trekking to class on foot or walking together at school, taking steps to support polar bears – a species among those most affected as the Arctic warms and sea ice melts.
Proceeds will be donated to World Wildlife Fund Canada to fund conservation and research initiatives to protect vital habitats and shield polar bears and other Arctic wildlife from the detrimental effects of climate change.
Media and the public are invited to attend Sean Hutton's flagship walk in Guelph, Ont.
When: International Polar Bear Day, Tuesday, Feb. 27, from 8:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET
Where: Holy Trinity Catholic School 487 Grange Rd, Guelph, Ont. N1E 0C4
Students will meet at Sean's home and begin their walk to school at 8:30 a.m.
Who:
- Sean Hutton, founder of Polar Bear Walk
- Peter Ewins, WWF-Canada lead species expert
- Cam Guthrie, Mayor of the City of Guelph
- Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament
- Students from St. James, Holy Rosary and St. Patrick in Guelph will also be participating.
To see if there is a Polar Bear Walk near you, visit . Please contact schools directly for any media inquiries.
Key threats to polar bears
- Loss of sea ice habitat through rapid climate change: The polar bear's future is inextricably linked to its sea ice habitat, which they rely on for every aspect of their lives – it's where they move and hunt, mate and raise their cubs. Though most of Canada's polar bear subpopulations are currently stable, scientists predict one-third of the world's polar bears will be gone by 2050 without urgent action.
- Loss of primary prey due to reduced sea ice and snow cover: Sea ice is also essential habitat for their primary food, ringed seals. Without the ice, polar bears will have to spend more time walking on land and swim father to hunt.
- At least two-thirds of the world's polar bears live in the Canadian Arctic, giving Canadians a special responsibility for these iconic bears.
Sean Hutton, founder of Polar Bear Walk, says:
'I started the Polar Bear Walk because I heard about what climate change is doing to polar bears and wanted to do something about it. The walk shows that kids, even though we are young, can take steps against climate change and make a big difference for the planet.'
Megan Leslie, president and CEO of WWF-Canada, says:
"WWF-Canada is proud of young environmentalists like Sean Hutton and all of the students who are walking for polar bears on International Polar Bear Day. Sean's love for polar bears and his drive to do something about the threats Arctic wildlife face is amazing.'
About the walk
The Polar Bear Walk was founded in 2013 by polar bear enthusiast and WWF-Canada supporter Sean Hutton, who was just seven years old at the time. Each year since then, Sean has mobilized friends, schools and communities to take action by walking to school on International Polar Bear Day.
About World Wildlife Fund Canada
WWF-Canada creates solutions to the environmental challenges that matter most for Canadians. We work in places that are unique and ecologically important, so that nature, wildlife and people thrive together. Because we are all wildlife. For more information, visit .
Attachment:
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
Emily Vandermeer
WWF-Canada
5196161556
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