Close Encounter

A polar bear with boundary issues causes nerves to fray on the Hudson Bay

- Stuart Forster

A male polar bear — weighing in excess of 800lbs — is sauntering our way; little more than 30 of snow-dusted ground stands between us. Should we be this near to a wild animal that almost certainly hasn’t eaten anything in weeks?

Derek, our guide, refers to these creatures as the lords of the Arctic. Last night, during an after-dinner lecture by the fireside at Seal River Heritage Lodge, he reminded us that polar bears are the biggest of the world’s land-dwelling carnivores.

There’s no point in running, he told us. Polar bears may look ungainly but they can run at speeds of over 18mph. In my thick ski pants, boots and multiple layers, there’s no way I’m going anywhere fast.

Anyway, running would be the worst thing any of us could do. When Derek met us o‰ the de Havilland light aircraft that brought us to the remote lodge, 40 miles north of the Canadian town of Churchill, he’d explained we’d need to stand together as a group upon encountering polar bears.