The latest phase of Louisville Zoo’s Glacier Run exhibit is set to open on 26 April and will be home to polar and grizzly bears, seals and sealions.

Designed as an imaginary settlement on the edge of the Arctic, Glacier Run is modelled after the real town of Churchill, Canada, so called polar bear capital of the world. The exhibit will offer opportunities for close-up encounters with the inhabitants, meeting the keepers and learning about the current challenges to the Arctic environment.

The town includes the Glacier Run Mining Company, with access to underwater viewing windows of the bear pool; Gilbert's Fishmongers Fishery, the outdoor bear exhibit area; a town hall, zoo classrooms; and a gift shop. An old mine quarry - now flooded - forms the bear pool. The Kentucky, US, zoo is to open the Glacier Run Arctic Ambassador Center - which will include outreach animals such as snowy owls and arctic foxes – in 2012, as well as an aviary to house the zoo’s Steller’s sea eagle.

Previous phases of the Glacier Run project include the expanded Australian Walkabout, the Calistoga Splash Park at Glacier Run, Alice S. Etscorn Tiger Tundra exhibit and Seal and Sea Lion Habitat.