Save The BiPolar Bears!

The Bipolar Bear

BiPolar bears, also known as north-south bears or Nanuq-depressive bears in the Inuit language, are a bear species native to both the Arctic and Antarctic. BiPolar bears migrate between the north and south poles so that they remain in winter conditions year-round. They likewise alternate between “high” states of mania (in the north) and “low” states of depression (in the south). Why these geographically-determined mood swings should be polar in nature has baffled conservationists and animal psychiatrists alike.


It is a common misperception that bipolar bears live only in the north, where they are often observed behaving in a wild, unpredictable manner – climbing icebergs, violently smashing inukshuks, hunting to the point of depleting fish stocks and leaping over igloos. Conversely, they have rarely been sighted in Antarctica, which psychiatrists attribute to depression-induced isolation; though others suggest that the lack of southern sightings is merely due to the fact that few humans live in Antarctica to observe them.

The Manic Pole

Manic bears demanding a ride south for the summer

BiPolar Bears living in the north tend to act in a manner suggesting elation, euphoria, irritation, and/or suspicion. They have substantial energy, can roar non-stop for hours and they develop grandiose ideas, some of which lead to conflicts with other animals. When these feelings occur, an international team of animal psychiatrists come forward and offer them medication, usually under the pretense that it will make them feel even better than they do. Indeed, the bears are satisfied with their "floating" experiences, though observers insist that they never leave the ground.

The Depressive Pole

One severely depressed bear

Psychiatrists in Antarctica describe BiPolar bears as experiencing “sadness, guilt, isolation, loneliness, fatigue, and lack of motivation.” Wildlife biologists describe them as “hibernating.” Nonetheless, therapists have been sent in to see if they could assist the depressed animals, with little success. No cause of the bears’ depression could be discerned; indeed, their more-than-adequate supply of fur and blubber tended to keep them well insulated from any disparaging remarks aimed their way. Furthermore, the bears were not forthcoming about their depression; they kept whatever was inside them well camouflaged.

Possible Explanations

It has been hypothesized that BiPolar bears suffer from seasonal affective disorder, though this theory does not explain why they are depressed during the southern winter but manic in the northern winter. A more popular theory is that their state of mind is diet-related.

Conservation status

The debate as to whether BiPolar bears are endangered tends to be polarized. Conservationists on the one hand demand that they be protected, whereas conservatives on the other, insist that they cannot possibly be endangered because they never existed in the first place.

*j/k*

I am participating in NAMIWalks MetropolitanHouston on May14th 2011. I have created a team called the "BiPolar Bears". Please, if you would like to join my team, go to my TeamPage. Or if you would like to sponsor me in my walk you can go to MyPage and donate. You can also go to the NAMI website and look up a NAMIWalks in your area in which you can participate.

~I'm not "crazy," I'm just "A Little Bit Special"~