Londoners got quite a shock yesterday as polar bears floated down the Thames River on icebergs, past the Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament. They didn’t make some kind of bizarre, epic journey down from the Arctic, though – they’re sculptures launched in the river to raise global warming awareness, as part of the launch of new British television channel ‘Eden’.
From The Times Online:
A total of 15 artists spent two months constructing the 20ft by 20ft square structure, which was launched at 6:30am before travelling up the Thames, stopping besideTower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament. The structure weighing, 1.5 tonnes, was winched into place.
The event coincides with the Eden Channel’s Fragile Earth series, presented by Sir David Attenborough.
Melting ice caps threaten the existence of polar bears as their habitat disappears. There will also be serious consequences for the two billion people who depend on glacial meltwater to feed rivers.
Sir David said: “The melting of the polar bears’ sea ice habitat is one of the most pressing environmental concerns of our time. I commend Eden for highlighting the issue; we need to do what we can to protect the world’s largest land carnivores from extinction.”
The polar bear will also be touring other cities, including Glasgow and Birmingham.
That’s certainly a good way to grab people’s attention. The sculptures are pretty lifelike, but a close-up on the Times Online website shows that no fur was involved. (UPDATE: See video above!)
Link [Times Online]
Photo credit: The Daily Mail
