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 is home to 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 due to the early melting of sea ice due to climate change. It is home to snow geese and Arctic foxes, as well as belugas and harbour seals.