I had already been residing at sea for over a month aboard the Ocean Endeavour with Adventure Canada after I first heard whispers about an excessively particular position. Deep within the center of Nunavut in Canada, there is likely one of the easiest flora and fauna spots within the Arctic: Coningham Bay within the Northwest Passage. By no means heard of it? Don’t fear, no longer many have.
Coningham Bay may seem like another bay within the huge, sprawling tundra of the Arctic. Extensive and desolate, it’s particular as it has a slim, shallow front. Within, the bay itself is lovely shallow. Beluga whales like to come back throughout the bay and roll round within the shallows, scraping their pores and skin. However as it’s very shallow at low tide, the belugas are trapped throughout the bay till the tide is available in once more.
Deliver at the hungry polar bears!
After I first heard this, I nearly didn’t imagine it. There’s a position the place polar bears hunt beluga whales? I used to be skeptical. That seems like some Planet Earth documentary, uncommon and unusual, no longer one thing other people in most cases see.
Polar bears basically hunt seals at the pack ice. Whilst I’ve observed polar bears within the wild repeatedly, I’ve by no means observed them hunt a whale and even make a kill. Unsure me used to be all like, “Can they even take down a beluga?” Possibly an injured one or a calf, or possibly chow down as soon as it’s already lifeless and washed ashore.
Boy, used to be I improper.
At over 70° N, Coningham Bay isn’t simple to get entry to. Only a few other people will ever be fortunate sufficient to consult with right here, and it’s in most cases best at the few expedition ships that make the overall adventure during the Northwest Passage.
Even then, it’s no longer assured. Mom Nature laws the Arctic with an iron fist.
Expedition trip is difficult by way of many elements, particularly the elements. The swells of the water, the wind, the visibility, and the ocean ice all name the pictures. And, in fact, polar bears and belugas stay their very own schedules. We by no means know precisely the place they are going to be. There may well be none there and tons elsewhere. It’s some of the causes I like exploring this fashion.
It in reality is an journey. It in reality is an expedition. We need to glance and discover to search out the superb puts. And hope that where the place polar bears hunt beluga whales delivers.
Bundled up in one million layers, it used to be a sunny morning after we approached Coningham Bay on Journey Canada’s Out of the Northwest Passage commute.
September within the Arctic is already complete autumn, with snow simply starting to fall. Earlier than we even arrived close to Coningham Bay, we were given the decision over the radio that lets already spot greater than a dozen bears within the house. Holy shit!
I used to be so excited, much more excited than same old. Putting out at the outer decks with my binoculars glued to my face, the suspense used to be killing me. I couldn’t wait til it used to be my flip within the zodiac to head out and spot the bears.
I’ll additionally point out that we apply the AECO pointers for flora and fauna, together with polar bears and whales: no longer drawing near them, conserving a secure distance, by no means nerve-racking them, and many others. Journey Canada additionally has a forged group of skilled polar undergo guards who include deterrents and firearms; lots of them are native Inuit. However don’t be troubled; it nearly by no means occurs that eventualities escalate to that.
Virtually once we piled within the zodiac on the gangway, we started to peer flora and fauna. Out of nowhere, a narwhal popped up proper subsequent to us within the shallows. Sea unicorn, omg!!! It simply rolled round within the water subsequent to us for ages. The water used to be just about crystal transparent, taking a look nearly Mediterranean. You’ll want to see directly to the ground, regardless that ice chilly.
Zooming during the shallow front, Coningham Bay greeted us with a few dozen polar bears dotted throughout. Mother and cubs. Giant boys. Swimming bears. Even a freshly lifeless undergo. And there have been beluga splashing round, too. There have been such a lot of bears, in most cases solitary, simply placing round, unbothered by way of every different. There used to be sufficient meals to head round. It’s onerous to not wish to pull aspects – who do you root for? The undergo or beluga?
And certain sufficient, we hit the motherload. There used to be a mother with two cubs feasting on a lifeless whale. As a photographer and storyteller who loves flora and fauna, seeing issues in motion is so thrilling. I’ve been on a couple of safaris in Africa, and essentially the most thrilling viewings are when a predator is looking. I do know that is morbid, however seeing bears coated in gore used to be wild and unforgettable.
Gazing the polar bears and belugas of Coningham Bay ranks amongst my easiest flora and fauna reviews. I’ll by no means, ever put out of your mind that day.
Many due to Journey Canada for website hosting me within the Arctic. As all the time, I’m conserving it actual—all reviews are my very own, and it’s worthwhile to be expecting much less from me!
