Polar Park

Meet the Arctic animals

A visit to Polar Park gives you a glimpse into Nordic wildlife. Here, the animals live in large and spacious enclosures where they are free to roam as they please. The experience is founded on animal welfare in natural surroundings, so catching a glimpse of the animals often requires walking at a slow pace, armed with patience.

The northern species up close

The majestic moose is often spotted snacking on birch while watching you from behind a tree. On your first left, our beautiful deer love to spend time near the fence and are easy to spot. The musk ox originally comes from Greenland but has lived in the Bardu region for many years.

Spend some time near the lynx enclosures, and this graceful animal may emerge silently on its large paws, perfectly adapted for walking on snow. Our famous bears, Salt and Pepper — one brown and one albino — were born in 2009 and immediately became a television sensation in Norway, attracting visitors from near and far to Polar Park. In January 2020, three new bear cubs were born, slowly stealing all the attention.

And of course, not to forget the wolves, which you can meet in two different wolf packs within the park.

Guided tours

If you would like a guide, you can request one before arrival. They will accompany you and your group on a tour of the park, where you can ask questions and learn more about Nordic wildlife and our four-legged residents.

Wolf encounters

On Wednesdays and Fridays, we arrange Wolf Visits, our most sought-after experience. The park habituates the wolves by allowing them to spend time with our animal keepers from a young age. We began this practice in 2008, with animal welfare as an important priority.

Wolves are naturally afraid of humans, but by becoming accustomed to scents, sounds and movements, their instinct to flee is reduced. However, the wolves are by no means tame. We work to maintain this connection throughout the wolves’ lifespan, allowing us to experience them up close in a controlled environment.

At the same time, these interactions provide enrichment for the wolves by activating them on different levels and offering mental stimulation every day, particularly through new scents.

Visitors can participate in close-up encounters, although with some restrictions, as the wolves need rest between visits. This opportunity to experience wolves up close is a unique encounter we are proud to share with our guests.