For decades the the extruded tusk, actually tooth, of the male narwhal has been thought to be for mating purposes. Now, Canadian researchers have filmed incredible video footage in the high Arctic showing the real purpose of their tusks; feeding. This short documentary highlights four researchers from Fisheries and Oceans Canada describing how they were able to capture the never before recorded evidence of this narwhal behavior. Fascinating!
Alex De Vries – Magnifico shot this video last polar bear season in Churchill with his phone camera. What an awesome look at a polar bear family descending the Precambrian Shield in Churchill. It’s somewhat rare to capture a polar bear clan on the move, especially in stormy weather. Churchill can be full of natural wonders and surprises on any given day. Enjoy!
CNN Travel has produced this exciting new look at Churchill and the world of polar bears. Take a look at and discover why you should consider venturing north to the “The Polar Bear Capital of the World” with Natural Habitat Adventures. Churchill is the most unique and accessible place in North America to get up – close and personal with polar bears. Come see for yourself!
Travel Manitoba recently released new videos promoting tourism to the province. This northern lights footage comes from Churchill and even features Natural Habitat Adventures’ Aurora Pod. It’s not too early to start thinking about a trip to Churchill next January, February or March to see the incredible northern lights and the magical frontier town on the Hudson Bay shores. The adventure is waiting for you!
Check out these amazing video images from the high Arctic circle. A mother polar bear emerges from her winter den with two new cubs. This unique and spectacular video is from the BBC natural history masterpiece ‘Planet Earth’. Polar bear family’s emerge from their dens in early spring, sometime generally in March and after acclimatising they will be guided to the pack – ice for hunting lessons and for mom to hopefully capture enough seals to feed the family. Enjoy!
Polar Bears aren’t the only species that migrate to Manitoba in huge numbers! In fact, snakes are more plentiful in the far northern province of Canada. And, most of those snakes gather in a space about the size of your living room…roughly 75,000 to be more precise!
Paul Colangelo, a National Geographic grantee, recently spent time photographing the largest snake gathering in the world in the Narcisse Snake Dens of Manitoba found in southern Manitoba.
Every spring thousands of red – sided garter snakes amass inside the unique limestone caves of the region and form “mating balls” consisting of hundreds of male snakes attempting to mate with a sole female. The female twists and moves desperately to escape the pit and thus creating these balls of motion rolling on the ground around the area. The female “is desperately trying to get out of the pit,” states Colangelo, an environmental documentary photographer.
The cluster of slithery bodies seems a “frenzy, but a closer look reveals a much finer dance,” Colangelo said in his field notes. “The small males court the larger female by rubbing her head with their chins and maintaining as much contact between their long bodies as possible.”
Interacting and photographing these oft – feared reptiles brings awareness to the species and assists in fostering more appreciation for the fascinating snakes. Colangelo even goes as far as describing the snakes as “cute”. They have “puppy-dog eyes—they just don’t blink,” he quipped.
