Reading Practice 30

[1] The Arctic North is known as one of the least hospitable places on Earth. When one thinks of tourist destinations, few contemplate a trip to the frigid northern latitudes. Despite the cold barriers, the polar regions are homes to many creatures, including polar bears. These bears are well-known and popularized in advertisements and pop culture. Thanks to campaigns from companies like Coca-Cola, polar bears are now animals most associated with the North Pole. In the United States, there is only one outpost where adventurers can find the alpha predator of the north: Kaktovik.

 

[2] Kaktovik is tucked into the far north-eastern corner of the United States’ most northern state, Alaska, and is its closest site to the North Pole. Boasting a humble population of 300, Kaktovik is located on Barter Island. It earned its name due to the settlement’s importance as a place of bartering for the native Inupiat from Alaska and the Inuit from Canada. Kaktovik itself means “Seining Place” due to its access to a large fresh-water pond of fish. Despite its local and regional importance, it wasn’t until an air landing strip was built in Kaktovik that the settlement began to welcome outsiders. Despite the humble appearance of wind-battered huts and cottages, Kaktovik has something special to offer: polar bears. Whereas tourists want to see polar bears, the bears come to Kaktovik in search of food.

 

[3] For polar bears, Kaktovik has one great attraction: the bone pile left over from the annual hunt for Bowhead whales. The Bowhead whale is an endangered species; however, the Inupiat are allowed a quota of three whales per year due to cultural considerations. The meat supplied by Bowhead whales provides enough food for the Inupiat to survive the winter. Hunters kill the whales at sea and then haul the carcasses into Kaktovik to carve up the corpses for their meat. Similar to bears storing fat for hibernation, the meat provided is ample enough for the small communities. In the same way, the community uses the meat, polar bears utilize the bones. The bones are collected into one large pile on the beach which leads to midnight raids by polar bears. Consequently, find the bone piles if you wish to see polar bears.

 

[4] There are three types of bears found in the area surrounding Kaktovik, namely grizzly, brown, and polar bears – the most attractive animals to tourists. The Bowhead-bone pile lures bears from all around the area. Therefore, early September is the season to make the trip to Kaktovik to follow the hunt. Taking a simple van out to the beach will give you a close encounter of a frigid degree. Vehicle headlights will illuminate several polar bears to the wary adventurer. Male polar bears can reach up to 1500 lbs, while females tend to be smaller at about 450lbs. The latter are more common at the bone pile. From a distance, these pallid figures may seem adorable; however, these alpha predators will curiously wander up to your van to figure out what you are—and if you’re edible. Even though polar bears could make quick work of a person when hungry, these close encounters are relatively harmless due to their lack of interest in an unappetizing vehicle. Nevertheless, you may still experience the shivers of this Arctic encounter.

 

[5] Polar bears are the patriarchs of the Arctic North. Even though they reign supreme over their habitat, they are still in jeopardy due to human actions. In spite of efforts to protect them, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthome of the United States conducted an oil-and-gas-drilling lease valued at $2.66 billion which has placed the polar bears in great peril. The Arctic has already lost more sea ice than the combined area of Texas and California, and incursions by oil further endanger this northern paragon. The two-pronged devastation of the polar bear’s natural habitat could contribute to the species extinction if there is a continued lack of efforts to protect the polar bear.