To celebrate International Polar Bear Day on Thursday, Google Maps! Street View will let people see images and footage captured of the bears and their frozen habitat.
Last October and November, the Google Maps team traveled to Manitoba's Cape Churchill for footage of the bears, according to Today.
Google partnered up on the project with the nonprofit group Polar Bears International. Executive director Krista Wright said, "The Street View project lets viewers explore the tundra and see the polar bear migration, no matter where they live."
Google took a donated "tundra buggy" and photographed polar bears chilling in the Arctic and later put the photos together for people to see. Wright noted that though most bears ignored the vehicle, some would curiously approach. She noted, "We call it 'buggy love.'"
ECanadaNow notes that Wright feels the project helps "share an intimate look at polar bears in their natural habitat."
The project also gives people the chance to see more than just polar bears. One can also check out Cape Churchill, Wapusk National Park and the town of Churchill.
The Wright's nonprofit group hopes the images help educate people about the always changing conditions and the growing lack of sea ice in polar bears' habitats.
image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
