A new video initiative is bringing the famed brown bears of Alaska's Katmai National Park directly to a computer or smartphone.
Cameras installed in a partnership with explore.org that will allow viewers to watch the animals in their natural habitat, adult bears compete for salmon at Brook Falls, and cubs play with each other. A live Web stream (http://is.gd/bfPAs8) begins Tuesday.
A park official says it will provide an unparalleled opportunity for people to study bears at the park, which is difficult to reach and expensive for most tourists. Katmai is about 275 miles southwest of Anchorage, but no roads lead there, so a trip involves multiple airplanes and a lot of planning.
Explore.org spokesman Jason Damata says the webcam is part of efforts to reconnect people with nature.
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