Discover the magical wildlife of the Polar Park

Provided by:

Polar Park

Do you dream of experiencing Norway's wildlife up close? Polar Park is the world's northernmost zoo and offers a unique chance to meet the majestic predators and animals as in the arctic wilderness. The park is located in the heart of the beautiful Salangsdalen in Bardu, surrounded by dramatic nature – high mountains, lush forests and crystal clear rivers. In the Polar Park you can see Norway's four big predators such as wolf, brown bear, lynx and wolverine, as well as beautiful deer, moose, reindeer and musk deer. Throughout the year, Polar Park offers various activities and seasonal events, such as guided tours, feeding the animals and special photo opportunities. In winter, you can experience the arctic magic with snow-covered trees, the northern lights and the animals in their thick winter fur. In summer, the farm animals at the entrance create a fantastic atmosphere, you can experience a large outdoor area with play stands, lush nature with a crystal blue river. Regardless of the season, you can be inspired and learn about the wildlife in Northern Norway in an atmosphere where both animals and nature take center stage. Welcome to an unforgettable wilderness experience - Polar Park awaits you!

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, English (British), Deutsch , Français, 中文, Español, 日本語, 한글 , Suomalainen, Italiano

To find more content and listen to free audio guides, download the Voice of Norway app.

Points of interest

#1

Introduction

Welcome to Polar Park – home to the Nordic region's large carnivores and deer. The park was opened in 1994 in Bardu - one of northern Norway's wilderness municipalities. We emphasize large enclosures for our animals, where all animals have the opportunity to retreat. Each animal is given room to live in as natural a habitat as possible. With 1,100 acres spread over 12 enclosures, the park has the world's largest area per animal. The welfare of the animals, veterinary supervision and trained staff are a supporting element for the park. In order for you to get the most out of your visit, we have collected some practical tips that may be good to keep in mind. Dress according to the weather: Northern Norway can offer varied weather conditions, so we recommend dressing according to the season. In winter, temperatures can be very low, so make sure you have warm clothes that can withstand the cold and wind. In the summer, it may be a good idea to wear clothing that protects against both sun and mosquitoes - sunscreen and mosquito repellent can also be smart to bring. Infrastructure and facilities: All important infrastructure, such as toilets, ticket sales and souvenir shops, can be found in the main building at the entrance to the park. There are no restaurants or toilets in the zoo itself, so make sure you use the facilities before you start your trip. For your safety: For your and the animals' safety, we ask all our visitors to keep a good distance from the fences. Feeding the animals is strictly prohibited! The animals receive specially adapted feed, and outside food can be harmful to them. Please also note that smoking is only permitted in the car park. Hiking trail and directions: A trip through the Polar Park usually takes between 1 and 2 hours. Follow the road down to the river, cross the bridge, then take the paved road up to the left. Stay on the roads. Extra activities Depending on the season, we also offer special activities and events that can be booked at the ticket office. We look forward to giving you a memorable day in Polar Park! Narrator's voice, text, images and links are automatically activated when you move within the red circles on the map. The texts are written in Norwegian and translated with artificial intelligence. The narrator's voice is based on artificial intelligence.

Audio guides available in:

Español, Norsk bokmål, English (British), Deutsch , Français, 中文, 日本語, Suomalainen, Italiano, 한글

#2

Visitor Center Carnivore

In the main building of the Polar Park you will find our exhibition. Here you get an exciting insight into the mysterious world of predators. The exhibition will be updated and re-opens in january 2026. About us: The Visitor Center Carnivore Bardu is a center for anyone who wants to learn more about and be inspired by predators in Norwegian nature. The center was founded in Polar Park in 2015 and is a government-authorized visitor center operated by the independent foundation “Rovdyrsenter Bardu”. We work to impart knowledge about natural and cultural values to young and old and offer visitors a comprehensive and neutral knowledge base about the “Big Four” predators: bears, wolves, lynxes and wolverines, as well as golden eagles.

Audio guides available in:

English (British), Norsk bokmål, Deutsch

#3

The wolverine- adapted to a life in cold and snow

This text was translated from Norwegian by artificial intelligence. You are now standing in front of the Wolverine installation. Here you see an adult male wolverine standing on a crag next to a dead reindeer calf. The wolverine is widespread in northern parts of Eurasia and North America and thrives in forest, mountain and tundra landscapes, preferably far away from human activity. The habitat of the wolverine overlaps with the habitat of the reindeer and animals with low weight or poor condition are easy prey for the predators. Although the Wolverine is capable of hunting animals 13 times its own size, it is best known for feeding on already dead animals. A so-called "Scavenger". It is constantly on the move and often follows other predators to feed on the remains. When an opportunity arises, the food is hoarded for later use. The food is broken up into smaller pieces and hidden in snow glaciers or stone urns, but is also buried in bogs, streams and damp areas which are sought out for a long time afterwards and ensure survival through the winter. The food is moved over short and long distances to the storage areas. The wolverine uses a lot of energy for this, but it enables it to distribute its food supply throughout the year. Takes a look in window 2 to see the wolverine's food supply. The wolverine is a "marten" and adapted to a life underground. A den, well hidden in a rock face and under deep snow, is the birthplace of the cubs. See window 1. A Wolverine mother usually gives birth to 2-3 cubs in February/March. They weigh around 80-90g and are around 12 cm long and have white fur. They receive mother's milk and after around 10 weeks they have reached a weight of approx. 3 kg. Then they are ready for solid food. The mother wolverine raises the cubs alone, which makes the cubs particularly vulnerable to enemies when the mother is hunting for food. The male squirrel is the biggest enemy of the cubs, and seeks out the den when the mother has left. A wolverine mother does not give birth every year, this often depends on age and access to food. The wolverine has powerful jaws and can crush thick bones and frozen meat. In window 3 you can see a real skull of the wolverine. The iron wires show how big the muscles are. On the top of the head and in the cheeks, they mostly serve to bite hard and hold on to the prey. The background image shows the footprint of a wolverine with a front foot on the right and a hind foot on the left. It is the tread pads on the underside of the paw that make the main impression. The surrounding fur creates the outline of the paw. On the mounted wolverine paw, the fur on the underside is clipped to show the tread pads. The wolverine is an animal that people rarely see. For some, the animal is completely unknown. In Northern Norway, the Wolves have always had an affinity. Take a look at Window 4. Here you see the wolverine in arms for Bardu Municipality, the municipality you are in. Here the wolverine has always been part of nature and stands symbolically for strength and continuity. The first permanent residents came in 1791 from Gudbrandsdalen in southern Norway. The house you see is similar to the first house that was built. Altogether there were around 20 permanent residents in 1791. Today, the Municipality has around 4,000 inhabitants.

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, Deutsch , English (British), 中文, 日本語, Italiano, Français

#4

Reindeer

This text was translated from Norwegian by artificial intelligence. You have now arrived at the reindeer fence. A total of eight reindeer live here and roam freely. Look around carefully - you might see them lying on the marsh or further into the forest. Reindeer are typical herd animals and live in the northern hemisphere, where they thrive in arctic areas. They eat grass, herbs, heather and lichen. With us, the reindeer also receive specially developed concentrated feed for reindeer. The reindeer is the only deer in which the females also have antlers. The largest antlers can become so formidable that they almost have to be considered unsuitable for the animals. It is the bucks that develop the largest and most showy antlers. Both sexes shed their antlers annually: The bucks shed their antlers in November/December after the rut is over, while the bucks shed their antlers only after the calf is born in May/June. In this way, they become dominant in the food dish and can keep the goats and other non-calf-bearing animals away. The hairs of reindeer are hollow and provide better insulation. Even at very low temperatures, down to minus 30 to 40 degrees, it is unnecessary for the animals to increase combustion. Maybe you are lucky and hear a characteristic clicking sound when the reindeer walks? The sound comes from the joints, and experts believe that it helps the reindeer stay together in snowstorms or fog. The bucks are the largest and weigh between 70 and 150 kg, while the sims are smaller and weigh from 40 to 100 kg. Calving season is from April to June. Enjoy your stay, and good luck discovering the reindeer!

Audio guides available in:

日本語, Italiano, 한글 , Deutsch , Norsk bokmål, Français, English (British), 中文, Español

#5

Moose

This text was translated from Norwegian by artificial intelligence. We currently have a moose in the park. Her name is Stine and she was born in 2018. The moose is Norway's largest mammal, and is often called the "king of the forest". Today, moose can be found in most of the country, from the south to the far north. It can weigh up to 700 kg and have a shoulder height of over 2 metres. The moose is known for its impressive antlers, which can have up to 12 spikes on each side. The moose lives in wooded areas and is a herbivore that eats grass, leaves and twigs. It is most active at night and at dusk, but can also be seen during the day. The elk is very shy and cautious, so it is important to keep your distance and not disturb it.

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, 中文, 日本語, 한글 , Italiano, English (British), Deutsch , Français, Español

#6

Brownbear

This text was translated from Norwegian by artificial intelligence. You have now reached the area where the bears in the Polar Park live. Divided into two enclosures, we have a total of 9 brown bears. The brown bear is one of the largest predators in Norway and can weigh up to 300 kg. It lives mainly in the northern and central parts of the country. The bear goes into a den in the winter and hibernates. They can lose up to 50% of their body weight during this period. When they wake up in the spring, they are hungry and need protein-rich food to build up muscle mass. The brown bear is an omnivore and eats both meat and plants. Here in the Polar Park we have an albino brown bear called "Salt". Salt lives in a team with his brother called Pepper. They were born in 2009 and are siblings. Albino animals are rarely found in the wild.

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, 한글 , English (British), 中文, Français, 日本語, Español, Italiano, Deutsch

#7

Wolverine

This text was translated from Norwegian by artificial intelligence. You have now reached the area of the wolverine. Our wolverine is called Bor and he comes from Kristiansand zoo and was born in 2018. The wolverine is a fascinating animal that belongs to the marten family. It is known for its thick, fur-covered body and large, powerful claws that make it a skilled hunter. The wolverine is a territorial animal and can travel great distances in search of food. The wolverine is known to be highly intelligent and cunning, and it is also a skilled climber and swimmer. It is an important predator in the ecosystem and eats everything from small rodents to reindeer and moose. The wolverine has an excellent sense of smell and can sniff out a carcass over great distances and is known to hide its food. Can you find Bor? He is shy and to spot him we recommend that you keep your distance and behave calmly.

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, Italiano, Français, 中文, English (British), Deutsch , Español, 日本語, 한글

#8

Lynx fence 1

This text was translated from Norwegian by artificial intelligence. You are now at Gaupehegn 1. This is where Frost lives. Frost is a boy and born in 2009. He is from Kristiansand zoo and came to us a few years ago. Lynx is the only wild feline in Norway and the species is found over large parts of Norway. They are known for their distinctive appearance with their long ears and thick fur. Lynx is a shy animal and is rarely seen by humans. They live mainly in forested areas and are good hunters who hunt smaller animals such as hares and deer.

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, English (British), 日本語, 한글 , Deutsch , Français, 中文, Español, Italiano

#9

Lynx fence 2

This text was translated from Norwegian by artificial intelligence. You are now at Gaupehegn 2. Is alive "Lille Brun" born in 2015 here in the park. The lynx has an average lifespan of around 10-12 years in the wild. However, they can live up to 15 years in captivity. As for the number of cubs, lynx usually have a litter of 1-4 cubs in the spring. The cubs stay with their mother for about a year before they become independent and start hunting on their own. Lynx cubs are known to be playful and curious, and they learn important hunting skills from their mother during this time. The lynx population varies from place to place, and they are known to be shy and avoid contact with people.

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, English (British), 中文, Español, 日本語, Italiano, 한글 , Deutsch , Français

#10

Deer

This text was translated from Norwegian by artificial intelligence. We have a total of 3 deer, named Olga, Olivia and Oda. The deer is a herbivore and mainly eats grass, leaves, twigs and bark. In winter, when food is scarce, they will also eat lichen and moss. They have well developed sight, hearing and sense of smell, and are therefore very quick to detect possible dangers, and are also very shy. It disappears at the slightest suspicion of danger. In Norway, deer are a common species of deer found in forests and mountain areas throughout the country. The deer is known for its majestic appearance with its impressive antlers, especially in the males. They usually live in flocks and are active at night, making them more challenging to spot in the wild.

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, English (British), Deutsch , Français, 中文, Español, 日本語, Italiano, 한글

#11

Musk

This text was translated from Norwegian by artificial intelligence. You have now arrived at the Musk fence with a total of 3 musks, these come from a Musk farm in southern Sweden. The muskrat lived in Scandinavia 30,000-100,000 years ago, but did not survive the last ice age. At the beginning of the 20th century, muskox were brought from Greenland and released in Dovrefjell further south in Norway. The only place in Norway where you can experience these animals free in nature. In 1969, a private company here in Bardu in Troms tried to release a herd of muskox of 25 animals from Greenland. The company was to use them for wool production. Unfortunately, the animals were not as tame as thought, and during the elk hunt in 1975, a hunter came too close to a muskox in heat. It cost him his life. Musk is a large, robust species of goat. These impressive animals can weigh up to 400 kg and have impressive horns that can be up to a meter long. The muskrat is known for its thick, insulating fur that helps it survive the cold northern winters.

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, English (British), Deutsch , Italiano, 中文, Français, Español, 日本語, 한글

#12

wolves

This text was translated from Norwegian by artificial intelligence. Our wolf enclosure is home to Brage, Frøya, Frigg and Marit, all born in 2014 and siblings. These wolves are socialized, meaning they have been used to human interaction since they were born when they were only a week old. The neighboring enclosure is home to a pack of eight wolves from a zoo in Sweden. Wolves are master hunters and specialize in catching large ungulates. They hunt in pairs or packs and target large prey such as moose. In Scandinavia, moose make up over 95 percent of their diet, and a pair or pack can kill an average of more than 100 moose per year. The sounds of a wolf can be heard up to 10 kilometers away under optimal conditions. Both wolves and humans are social pack animals, which explains why the close relationship between us and wolves thousands of years ago led to the breeding of man's best friend, the dog. An adult female wolf in Scandinavia weighs on average between 35 and 40 kilograms, while a male weighs around 50 kilograms. In winter they mostly have a gray coat, while in summer they have more reddish-brown tones in their coat.

Audio guides available in:

Italiano, Norsk bokmål, Deutsch , Français, English (British), 中文, Español, 日本語, 한글

#13

The mountain fox

This text was translated from Norwegian by artificial intelligence. In the Arctic fox enclosure, you can meet Floki, Mano, and Rollo, who were born in 2019. These adorable Arctic foxes are active throughout the day and thrive best when they are with their family. The mating season for the Arctic fox lasts from late February to mid-April. If you visit during this time, you might even hear their unique mating calls. The pups are born between May and June in a den in the ground or among rocks. Each litter can range from 2 to 10 pups, with an average of 5–6. The Arctic fox primarily feeds on small rodents, such as mice and lemmings, but also eats birds, their eggs, carrion, insects, and berries. In recent years, however, there have been fewer peak years for the lemming population, which is essential for the Arctic fox's diet. Compared to the red fox, the Arctic fox is smaller, with a shorter snout, legs, and thick, short ears – perfect for retaining warmth and withstanding the cold. The Arctic fox comes in two color variations: white and blue. The white Arctic fox has a pure white coat in winter that turns grayish-brown in summer. The blue Arctic fox’s coat ranges from dark brown to light blue-gray in winter and becomes chocolate brown in summer. Enjoy your visit and get to know these fascinating Arctic foxes!

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, 中文, Español, 日本語, Deutsch , Français, Italiano, English (British)

Discover the magical wildlife of the Polar Park

Points of interest