Inuk Charlie Creates an Icon

The granite statue of a Polar Bear proudly watches over the entrance of the Arctic Ring of Life, and perhaps more impressive than the statue itself is the effort put forth to create this new Zoo icon.

Over a span of five weeks, Inuk Charlie, using a diamond-bladed cement saw, carved the Polar Bear out of a 4-foot by 5-foot by 9-foot, 32,000 pound block of Vermont Granite.

A native of Taloyoak in the Nunavut Territories of the eastern Arctic portion of northern Canada, Charlie's talent began at an early age. Raised in the nomadic way of life, he and his family saw few people outside of the missionary doctors who came north. Until he began school, he was known as E4735, not by a name. He took the name "Inuk" which is singular for Inuit. It is also about the time he began to carve toys because none could be found at the Hudson Bay Trading Company.

As his talents grew, so too, did his subjects, and although he has seen plenty of polar bears in his life, the carver would rather seek out the great white bear than work from photographs. Seeing them helps Charlie attain accurate dimensions and proportions.

" I tried to make him look curious. When you first see a bear that's what they do, turn their head in your direction to see if this is human or food. I wanted him not to be vicious. I'd like people to come here to enjoy it."

And enjoy it you will as you enter the Arctic Ring of Life and encounter Inuk Charlie's Polar Bear creation.