Wapusk
Location: Manitoba
Approximate Area: 80,400 hectares
Date of Designation: 1996
Conservation Objectives
To protect the park’s biodiversity, including more than 38 mammal species and 250 species of birds.
Prohibitions
A licensed tour operator is required for all activities in the park, and visits without one are prohibited.
Why (environmental context for protection)
Wapusk National Park houses a large number of northern Manitoba’s most ecologically important species. The park protects one of the largest polar bear maternity denning areas in the world. Polar bears are threatened in Manitoba, in large part from the early melting of sea ice due to climate change. Wapusk is also home to snow geese and Arctic foxes, as well as belugas and harbour seals. The language and traditional knowledge of the local Cree people are reflected in the name Wapusk, which means “white bear” in Cree.