‘An amazing story’: Tripod, the three-legged polar bear, spotted with her cub

Churchill Wild CEO Adam Pauls tells the inspiring story of Tripod, a three-legged polar bear and devoted mother.

A three-legged polar bear, who was first seen in 2021 along the coast of the Hudson Bay, is defying the odds and exceeding all expectations of survival.

The bear, nicknamed Tripod, was recently spotted once again, but this time with a special guest -- her cub.

Adam Pauls, CEO of tourism operator Churchill Wild, said Tripod’s future was thought to be “bleak” when she was first seen four years ago. He noted that polar bears go a few months every summer without really eating much, but that period lasts even longer the year they have cubs.

“It just seems nearly impossible that any bear could do it, never mind one that’s missing a pretty key feature in life,” he said in an interview with CTV Morning Live on Wednesday.

Pauls said Tripod and her cub were the first bears his staff spotted this year when they went to open their lodge in northern Manitoba.

He noted the pair is looking healthy, adding that Tripod seems to be an efficient hunter as polar bear mothers have less time to hunt for seals the year they have their babies.

“When [mother polar bears] come out to the ice in March-ish, she’s only got a few months to make hay before summer comes,” he explained.

“So, in that time, she managed to fatten up. She got enough stores for her and her cub so it’s quite an amazing story.”

As for what may have caused Tripod to lose her leg, Pauls said she most likely got it stuck between a few large pieces of sea ice, which harmed it to the point that it fell off.

With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagacé.