According to Polar Bears International, summertime is when two-thirds of the beluga population temporarily migrate to southern Canadian waters. That means there are around 100,000 whales making their way to their new home. They choose this location because it provides them with ice-free, shallow waters, something that is needed for the safety of their newborns.

“Arctic sea ice regulates our planet’s climate, and is essential for polar bears and humans alike,” says Krista Wright, executive director of Polar Bears International, adding, “On Arctic Sea Ice Day, we bring the Arctic to people around the world through outreach like the beloved Beluga Whale Live Cam.”

The sea ice also acts as the base of the food chain in the Arctic, Alysa McCall, director of conservation outreach and staff scientist at Polar Bears International, told ABC News. The algae growing on the sea ice serves as an underwater garden, attracting the fish that beluga whales feed on, McCall said.

This year's broadcast took place on Saturday, July 15, known as Arctic Sea Ice Day. It was created by Polar Bears International to spark actions and conversations about the rapidly melting Arctic ecosystem, why it matters, and how people around the globe can slow this warming trend.

The cameras, attached to boats, have been set up by Polar Bears International (PBI) and Explore.org and will be part of a citizen science program called “Beluga Bits” where anyone can contribute to beluga research.

“The Arctic is now warming nearly four times as fast as the rest of the planet, causing its sea ice to melt,” said Kieran McIver, Beluga Boat Captain and Manager of Churchill Field Operations for Polar Bears International (PBI), to IFLScience. “Sea ice is crucial for polar bears as well as other species like beluga whales, seals and humans.”

We spoke to Alysa McCall, Director of Conservation Outreach and staff scientist at Polar Bears International about what is really going on with these "white hairy canaries" of the Arctic. Recorded as part of The Big Questions, IFLScience’s podcast, we explore how the climate crisis is affecting polar bear populations, how monitoring polar bears from a monster truck actually works, and what can be done to keep these enigmatic animals safe.

But even with nearly 20 years under her belt, Titchener is just getting started and has her eyes on the Arctic — next stop, polar bears.

Polar Bears International provides many ways concerned individuals can get involved. In addition, any action taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is an action to help save the polar bears.

The book further features some fascinating and insightful essays from leading conservationists, including Jane Goodall, Paula Kahumbu from Wildlife Direct, Tara Stoinski from Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Krista Wright from Polar Bears International, Anish Andheria from Wildlife Conservation Trust, and Wes Sechrest from Re:wild.

Groups like Polar Bears International, a team of researchers and volunteers partnered with Wapusk National Park, are working to keep polar bears afloat. As one of the largest concentrations of female birthing dens in the world, the park offers cam viewers an exciting chance to see this iconic species in its natural habitat.

“Our mission is to conserve polar bears and the sea ice they depend on. Through media, science, and advocacy, we work to inspire people to care about the Arctic, the threats to its future, and the connection between this remote region and our global climate.”

At Polar Bears International House, I toured Tundra Buggy One, a research vehicle on loan from Frontiers North, the world’s only non-profit solely focused on conservation of wild polar bears. Frontiers North operates polar bear, beluga and aurora cams that people around the world can view online.

When humans step in to save them, mothers can end up rejecting their babies. This is likely because mothers are more stressed when giving birth in captivity than in the wild, according to the report.

Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard, Norway, sits deep within the Arctic Circle, about 700 miles from the north pole. It has about 35 year-round residents, but in summer the population swells to more than 100 as scientists fly in from around the world. Life in the town centres around saunas, sled dogs, and a weekly evening gathering called Strikk og Drikk, or Knit and Sip.

Resting harbour seals alongside nesting seabird colonies are drawing the hungry carnivores closer, said Joanna Sulich, a biologist with conservation nonprofit Polar Bears International.

“For many researchers who are studying those birds, it’s something of concern,” Sulich said.

"A polar bear's life is tied to the sea ice," writes Krista Wright, the executive director of Polar Bear International, in The New Big 5.

Representatives from the KC Zoo and Polar Bears International join Bill on the couch to chat about the large, gregarious animals and best ways to keep them safe and thriving. Polar Bears International conducts research to ensure they are conserving Polar Bears and the sea ice they live on. The KC Zoo is hosting a lecture tonight to share information about the work they’re doing for the world from right here in KC.

To address this threat, Polar Bears International is urging polar bear lovers to advocate for climate action this Earth Day. PBI is asking people to share the latest Synthesis Report of the Sixth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; considering it as a roadmap for a stable climate.

​​Resting harbour seals alongside nesting seabird colonies are drawing the hungry carnivores closer, said Joanna Sulich, a biologist with conservation nonprofit Polar Bears International.

"For many researchers who are studying those birds, it's something of concern," Sulich said.