Seaworld cutie Henry celebrated International Polar Bear Day on the Gold Coast

GIANT ice blocks, biscuits, and fancy fruit were on the menu this morning when SeaWorld’s polar bear cub ‘Henry’ invited guests to his Polar Pool Party.

GIANT ice blocks, biscuits, and fancy fruit were on the menu this morning when SeaWorld’s polar bear cub Henry invited guests to his Polar Pool Party.

The celebrations were all in aid of International Polar Bear Day — a day dedicated to all things Polar Bear and the potential threats against the species.

Polar bear cub Henry celebrates his first International Polar Bear Day.Pic by David Clark

“International Polar Bear Day has been going for many years, and it encourages people to either turn their thermostat up or down,” said Mitchell Leroy, Sea World’s curator of mammals and birds.

“Basically what they are urging people to do is rather than cool your apartment to 20 degrees, turn up the thermostat to at least 22 degrees. Same with the cold, just bring the tempreture down a couple of degrees,” he said.

IN PICTURES: HENRY CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL POLAR BEAR DAY

Although miles away from the Arctic Circle, Gold Coasters can do their bit, and as a result, cut down the use of carbon to bring on refrigeration.

The rapidly growing Henry takes a dip. Pic by David Clark

“As the icecaps come down, the food source for polarbears also comes down,” he said.

“Mums are having to wait longer before they can start hunting, and the longer it takes for the ice to come down, the longer the bears are having to fast,” he said.

International Polarbear Day kicked off this morning with a fruity feast and the bears’ favourite toys. For more information on International Polar Bear Day, visit http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/.