Polar bear discussion this week to feature photographers

Polar bears in Boca Grande? Not this year, but the Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association will sponsor a lecture, “The Realities of Global Warming: A Look at Polar Bears” at the Community Center Auditorium on March 16 at 4 p.m.

It will be presented by two experts: a top scientist and a National Geographic photographer. Dr. Steven Amstrup, head of science and research for Polar Bears International; and Dan Cox, noted wildlife photographer, will present research and award-winning photography showing the state of global climate change.
Dr. Amstrup led the research that convinced the Secretary of the Interior to list polar bears as a threatened species and Cox, who is on the board of Polar Bears International, took most of the award-winning

photographs of the bears themselves. The presentation will outline the research data concerning the bears and how the future of polar bears depends entirely on mitigating greenhouse gas rise.

In recognition of his work with polar bears and climate change, Dr. Amstrup is the recipient of the Indianapolis Prize, the world’s leading award for animal conservation, and also the Bambi Award.  

Dan Cox has been named NANPA’s 2013 Outstanding Nature Photographer of the Year, has two National Geographic Magazine cover stories and is listed by Nikon as a Nikon Legend.