National Geographic & ITV

By reputation, a predator of legendary power and skill, the polar bear holds an enviable spot atop the Arctic food chain. Imagine the terror of seeing one of these formidable creatures headed your way. That’s life in Churchill, Manitoba, polar bear capital of the world.

For years, the people of Churchill, shot renegade polar bears on sight, or simply stayed out of their way by staying holed up indoors. Wayde Roberts thought that there must be a better way to coexist with the beautiful animals. His solution: capture the bears that have crossed the “safety line” on the edge of town and set them back on their migration route.

Captured bears go to “Polar Bear Prison” until Wayde’s team hauls in enough of them to make a good day’s work for Wayde’s friend, helicopter pilot Steve Miller. Anaesthetized, strapped into a net and slung beneath Steve’s ‘copter, the bears wake up in the wild after a short trip out of civilization. A perfect and safe solution for both man and ‘beast’.