by Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (DEC 06/96) - Two polar bears were spotted inside Canadian North's cargo bay Nov 22. They flew to Rankin Inlet on Calm Air flight 1573 early in the day and were waiting for Canadian connecting flight 449 to Edmonton.

They were expected in Calgary to wait for departure to a zoo in Tacoma, Washington.

"This is the first time a polar bear has been on a flight since I was here," said Randy Miller, Canadian North customer services manager.

Renewable Resources officers in Churchill, Man. found the bears, gave them a tranquillizer and placed them in separate cages. Both bears weighed in about 100 lbs each.

Miller said the bears were a little excited inside their cages when the tranquillizer wore off so a few blocks of snow were pushed through their wire doors to help them keep their cool.

During the flight to Edmonton the bears were placed in the belly of the plane away from the passengers and in-flight services. Miller said they were prohibited from the meal and beverage service.

Each year, one or two bears are picked up in Churchill and sent to different zoos in the world.

Laury Brouzes, district supervisor of natural resources in Churchill said these bears are usually orphans who lose their mothers within the first year of being born.

The bears will not be able to survive alone so they're better off captured and sent to a zoo where they'll get the best treatment, he said.

"We give the bears away and the zoos pay the shipping expenses," Brouzes said.

Zoos make requests for bears every year. Last year two orphan cubs were sent to France and another two were shipped to Thailand.

Before any bears are sent anywhere, natural resources makes sure their new homes meet certain guidelines and a list of qualities.