Explorers caught up with Martin to find out if this bear made it and more about his extraordinary time with the polar bears.

Your winning photo is so powerful, how close were you to the polar bear?

For the winning picture we were actually very far away as it was taken with a drone (the drone was only a few meters from the bears) but we were about 500m from the drone. That being said various other images both awarded in the rising star portfolio and others from the expedition vary in distance. For instance I was only a few feet away from the polar bear for the underwater sequence.

We heard your equipment broke during the shoot, what happened?

The images at the WPY awards are actually from my expedition in 2020 when I spent 13 days with the bears, I returned again in 2021 to camp with them for 20 days. During both expedition we had various equipment malfunctions, most notably the camera boat that we built. It worked perfectly in our pool and the river, but coming up against the arctic ocean the RC failed and we had to come up with new solutions. Including putting myself into a small boat with a long pole and filming the bear underwater. 

Was the bear alone?

During the two expeditions we saw upwards of 50 different bears including mom and cubs, moms and teenage cubs, lone males, female groups…

How far did he have to swim?

Polar Bears, also known as sea bears travels great distances on the water, sometimes hundreds of kilometres and while this one only had to travel about 10km to land others have to cross a lot more. It all depends on the winds and where the sea ice breaks up, the bears of course don’t mind seeding time with the water. Their large front legs propel them forward while their hind legs work as a rudder to push them through the ocean.

Do you know if he made it?

Yes, this and the majority of the bears make it to shore from the sea ice. Where they make it is a whole other story as the polar bears have enormous ranges, venturing far out to sea on the ice and then migrating along the shore to where the sea ice forms first. The toughest time for the bears is actually towards the end of summer just before the ice from, not when they swim to shore. 

How do you cope with seeing the effects of climate change so close up? 

This is very hard to answer and I think that for me at least the effects of climate change aren’t localized to the polar bears. Climate change is around us from the fires in Australia and North America, to the rising oceans… The story of the polar bears is just one in a million.

Not to mention the whole idea of us documenting the bears in the summer came from trying to share a different story and see different behaviours to that we might see in other part of the arctic. While in trouble the Hudson Bay population which we saw included only healthy bears. In direct contrast to polar bears in other part of the world the biggest threat to the bears we see are people and the unpredictability of our season.

This of course making it not only difficult to film the bears, but also making it difficult for the bears to find food when they don’t know when the sea ice will from or melt, sometime it’s early and sometimes it’s late we just don’t know anymore.

You were just on an inflatable boat, was that scary?

During my 33 days with the bears myself and my team actually lived on a custom 24 foot aluminum boat, we built three bunk beds and a bear proof box in the back of the boat. In 2020 we just had a taped off area as the living room/sleeping area. In 2021 we went further and covered the whole boat with wood creating a very secure and comfortable camp.

We hear you are just about to go back to Antarctica, are you excited?

I’m actually heading back up to the Arctic next week and then maybe Antarctica in late 2022 early 2023. While I was hoping to take a break this year from the arctic (since I have been going every year since 2015 and I intend to spend the majority of 2023 there) I managed to come across a few different expeditions which will take me all the way to the Northwest Passage this year. I am very excited, but it always comes with a sense of anxiety since I plan the majority of my expeditions.

What are you doing this time there?

I cant discuss the details of a few of these projects, but for the main one I am doing the logistics and some of the filming for a Brazilian Sailing team who a re traveling from Alaska across the high Arctic to the Hudson Bay. With extensive knowledge of these area I am helping out with the planning and then actually traveling with the team throughout various times during this summer.

What is one thing you wish everyone would do to help save incredible species like the polar bear?

I really wish people would educate them selves not just on climate change, but also on habitat loss, hunting, wildlife management…. These are all threats of equal and in some areas greater importance. Especially in places like Canada that on paper appear very green, but in reality are actually some of the worst countries for the environment imaginable. I really wish people would see that and take the steps necessary to push governments to change.

I also really hope that from seeing my pictures people get to see these animals not as scary creatures, but as loving individuals each with their own personality and importance in the natural world. For us they are just bears, but for the planet, each has their own role in maintaining the natural balance.

You can see Martin’s work in person at Australian National Maritime Museum, where the 57^th Wildlife Photographer Exhibition is currently on show., or visit his website  www.matkopictures.com or Instagram @mywildlive

The post What happened to this polar bear? appeared first on Australian Geographic.

Meet Joel

Mushroom farmer Joel Orchard is a small grower from the Northern Rivers region of NSW. He grows fungi that he sells to restaurants and retailers, and also mentors young people in sustainable agriculture.

What do you love about mushrooms?

Mushrooms and the world of fungi is so incredibly interesting. They are such an amazing, diverse and useful organism for so many things. We only grow a small number of species of edible mushrooms.but there are also varieties that can do amazing things. In fact, mushrooms are being used to make building materials, medicines, cleaning products, textiles, fuels, packaging and more!

There are mushrooms that are used to clean up oil spills, toxic environments, to prevent animals from getting sick and some that are super important in our soils to help break down organic materials, stabilise carbon storage and help reduce climate change.

What type of farming do you practice?

I’ve tried lots of different types of farming over the last couple of years from vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruits and eggs. Now I’m growing mushrooms – I have an urban farm and at the moment I am making use of a shed at my suburban home too. I produce varieties of oyster mushrooms and mushroom kits for people to grow their own fungi at home. Our production process is quite natural and we use organic inputs and ingredients and don’t need to use any poisons, fertilisers or pesticides.

How did you get involved in micro farming?

I started my small mushroom farm at home when we got locked down at the beginning of covid. I wanted to explore how I could become more food secure at home in my own small backyard. We already grew some vegetables and have chooks for eggs and mushrooms was not something I had tried before. I wanted to do an experiment to see if I could grow my own with simple materials and without a lot of expertise. 

I’ve designed a simple set-up that anyone could build with materials from a hardware store. I’m also passionate about being able to grow mushrooms without using single use plastic, so we grow mushrooms in recycled 20L buckets that we can wash and use over and over again.

What’s the best part of your job?

I love watching the mushrooms grow! They start off very small like little bumps and over a few days they grow quickly into all sorts of beautiful shapes and sizes. Mushrooms grow quite quickly once they start and I check them a few times a day. It is super exciting when I grow really big mushrooms – they can get to become well over 1kg each!

What do you love about farming?

I love growing food for people and sharing knowledge about how we can eat and live more sustainably. It is great to hear how much people love the food that I grow and to know that it makes them happy and feel well. I also love the experience of working in harmony with nature and learning about the amazing natural systems of biological ecologies.

How can we support farmers in less industrial spaces? 

One of the most important things we can do is buy food that is grown locally. Farmers markets are great and buying food directly from farmers means that there is not a huge amount of wasted energy and resources in transporting fresh products from all over the world. This is because they use complex supply chains, refrigerated trucks and warehouses and then to supermarkets.

Food like this has travelled such a long way! and while it might be cheap, it has cost the earth to get there. Locally grown food is picked when it is perfectly ripe and ready and full of nutrients when we eat it and is so much better for us, the planet and it supports our local economies.

What type of farming would you like to see more practiced? 

Farming doesn’t have to damage the environment in which it is produced – in fact farming under the principles of “agroecology” can support many of our ecosystems. If we preserve and protect biodiversity and we can fight climate change by storing CO2 in the soils. It is an amazing science of working in balance with nature to create an ecosystem that supports lots of diversity and species which help reduce pests and disease, builds healthy soil and create really nutritious healthy food.

“I eat so many mushrooms – it’s hard to have favourites. But I do love a creamy mushroom pasta, deep-fried popcorn mushrooms and mushroom steaks in a burger.”

Joel laughs.

Nutritional Powerhouse!

Mushrooms contain Vitamin D – in fact they are tiny little Vitamin D factories. If you take your mushrooms and soak them in the sun with the gills facing up for half an hour or so they will absorb its ultraviolet light. They convert chemicals in mushrooms cells called ergosterol into ergocalciferols (also known as provitamin D2).

Vitamin D is super important for healthy bones, brain health and regulates our moods against depression.

The post Mad about fungus appeared first on Australian Geographic.

Explorers caught up with marine biologist Blake Chapman to separate truth from fiction.

What is the number one thing you want people to know about sharks?

One of the most important messages is that there is no ‘typical’ shark.

In fact, there are more than 500 species of sharks. They are all different and unique! Each species is perfectly adapted to its needs and environment and this makes the diversity of sharks really fascinating.

Why do you love them so much?

Sharks are absolutely incredible animals. I first became interested in them when I realised that so much of what we hear about sharks is incorrect or at least very biased. There is so much more to sharks. The more we learn about them, the more incredible they become. Sharks are also an important part of our planet’s aquatic ecosystems.

How can we help protect and keep our sharks thriving?

Sharks are currently at risk from fishing, human-caused changes to their habitat and broader environmental changes, mostly from climate change.

The number one thing is to learn about them. Investigate all of the little (and big) things that make sharks fascinating and good. Then share what you have learned to help other better understand the true nature of sharks.

What misconception about sharks would like to right?

That sharks are bad and do the wrong thing. Sharks are predators, and some are very large and powerful.

Unfortunately, sometimes this has really sad outcomes for people who share the water with sharks. It’s important to remember, though, that biting and eating are important, natural behaviours for sharks. They bite to investigate things they might not fully understand and just like all other animals, they need to eat to survive!

Seeing a shark so close to places where we swim and play can be a bit scary, but they aren’t coming close to shore to frighten us. Coastal habitats are really important for many species of sharks. This might be where they find their food, have their babies, or where the water conditions are just right for the sharks’ needs.

You can learn more about Blake and the great work she does by visiting: https://www.blakechapmancomms.com

Blake’s new book, Ocean Animals – The Weirdest, Smartest and Sneakiest Sea Creatures is out now and available at all good book stores for $29.99.

The post The truth about sharks appeared first on Australian Geographic.

His latest project – A Life on Our Planet – with Netflix, is a moving first-hand witness statement by David. It details how very badly things are going right now for the planet – and – by logical extension us. It is a must-watch for everyone but definitely have your tissues on hand!

In celebration of David’s great work we wanted to find out some lesser know facts about one of our planet’s most wonderful people. Did you know these 10 little-known facts?

(1) David has a whopping 32 degrees.

(2) He was a naval officer for two years.

(3) In his early days in TV, David was told his teeth were too big for the screen!

(4) There are more than 15 plants and animals named after him, including Attenborosaurus Conybeari or Attenborough’s lizard.

(5) He loves staying up late at night to read books.

(6) After he finishes making a documentary he rarely if ever watches them again.

(7) He was born in 1926 (he is currently 94) and is the same age as Queen Elizabeth II.

(8) His middle name is Frederick.

(9) David is terrified of rats!

(10) He doesn’t own a car and has never had his driver’s license.

You can learn more above David’s work here https://attenboroughfilm.com.

The post One planet appeared first on Australian Geographic.

(1) Perspective matters. Greta was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome ( a condition on the Autism spectrum which affects the way you think, feel and interact with everything around you), when she was just 12.

Greta is huge advocate for educating the world about this diagnosis and how, “under the right circumstances it can truly be a gift and turn into something you – and society – can benefit from.” Greta sees her autism as a super power – and – so do we!

(2) Every voice is powerful.

It all began in 2018, when Greta was just 15. She won a climate change essay contest. A few months later Greta began protesting outside the Swedish parliament building. Her handmade sign simply read ‘School strike for climate.’

Greta vowed that she would keep coming back until her government met the Paris 2015 emissions target. Her one lone voice has sparked a world-wide call to action. Greta reminded all of us, it doesn’t matter who you are, how old you are, or where you are – we can all make a difference.

(3) Take the high ground. Greta has been the face of fierce and unnecessary criticism from some of the world’s most disappointing leaders.

Case in point, after Greta was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year (wow), Donald Trump took it upon himself to say, “So ridiculous. Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, Chill!”

Greta responded on Twitter with “A teenager working on her anger management problem. Currently chilling and watching a good old fashioned movie with a friend.”

Word …

We have put together some of our favourite Greta quotes together for you.

You can get involved with Greta’s good work by visiting: https://fridaysforfuture.org.

Right now, Fridays For Future movement has more than 14,000,000 people taking part in over 7,500 cities.

The post Speaking up appeared first on Australian Geographic.

Julius Nielsen is a marine biologist working on doing just that. He is a passionate advocate for their cause and on educating the fishing industry about the perils of bycatch – unwanted fish caught in commercial nets.

As the lead author, and key researcher, Julius was part of the team who carbon-dated sharks’ eye lenses to age them. It was the only way that the scientists could do it because Greenland sharks do not have bones or hard cartilage. Julius assured us that they only did the study on sharks that had (unfortunately) died in nets.

“We were able to date one of the sharks we tested as at least 272-years-old,” Julius explains. “This makes Greenland sharks the longest-living vertebrate known to science.”

Julius also told us that they have a slow metabolism so grow very slowly and only start reproducing when they are 100-years-old. These amazing sharks live in extremely cold and deep waters and have very small eyes but excellent senses. 

We think that Julius has a pretty cool job, don’t you?

The post Saving the sharks appeared first on Australian Geographic.