69 



/. Sea otters: 



In the early days of this century the sea otter population had been reduced by 

 exploitation to scattered remnants (a few hundred) at a number of different 

 islands. Under a policy of complete protection which began in 1911, the popula- 

 tion spread and is today in a phase of rapid growth. Studies by the U.S. Fish 

 and Wildlife Service in the 1950's and early 1960"s showed that at that time they 

 had increased to at least 25 to 30 thousand animals and were rapidly spreading 

 into new areas. Aerial surveys have been continued by the State of Alaska, and 

 today it is estimated that the population has grown to about 40 to 50 thousand 

 animals. The rate of population growth in uncrowded areas as at least 10 percent 

 per year. In crowded jwpulations there is approximately a 4 percent rate of 

 increase and at islands where the populations exceed carrying capacity of the 

 habitat (i.e. more than 10 to 15 otters per suarqe mile of habitat) a population 

 decrease has been observed. Scientists believe that stress mortality such as 

 starvation, as well as emigration accounts for the declining populations in such 

 cases. The annual rate of reproduction is about 14 percent. Modern population 

 surveys are in accordance with these findings. For additional information on the 

 Sea Otter see Attach. 2. 



g. Walrus: 



While it is impossible to make any firm estimate of warlus numbers because 

 they are widely scattered, aerial surveys indicate that there are at least 60 to 

 100 thousand in the Bering Sea population. Walrus are not yet overpopulated, 

 but present evidence indicates that the populations are growing and that the 

 walrus are repopulating areas from which they were extirpated. 



The Pacific walrus population occurs in international waters and in territorial 

 waters of the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. There are an estimated 25,000 Atlantic wal- 

 ruses found principally in the East Arctic Atlantic. The Atlantic walrus is not 

 found in territorial waters of the U.S. For additional information see Attach. 3. 



h. Hawaiian monk seal: 



Monk seals are the only tropical-water seals in the world. In the 1,000 mile- 

 long chain of Pacific Islands on which it breeds (Kure Island to French-Frigate 

 Shoals) the species was reduced by commercial exploitation in the mid-19th cen- 

 tury to a very low level. The present population is not more than 1,50 animals. 

 Since 1, when the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge was created, the 

 monk seal has been afforded protection by the Federal Government. The monk 

 seal today breeds on only four islands ; all within the confines of the refuge. 



There are indications that the monk seal populations on the refuge are declin- 

 ing. Attrition by shark bite is quite high and this species will not tolerate human 

 disturbance. Therefore, management consists of complete protection for this 

 species, even to the exclusion of disturbances from visitors. The population is 

 visited only about twice a year to determine current status. This species is 

 presently classified as rare by the U.S. Department of the Interior. 



I. Polar bear: 



The distribution of the polar bear is circumpolar and coincides with the Arctic 

 ice pack. This ice pack is in constant motion, circulating with the ocean currents 

 and it is presumed that this motion affects movements of the bears. Due to the 

 adverse climatic conditions present within the range of this species, research has 

 been lacking. There has, however, been an intensification of investigations on 

 this species in recent years. 



A cooperative study of polar bears cuxrently is being conducted by Canada, 

 Denmark, Norway, the U.S.S.R. and the United States. This study was initiated 

 following an international meeting held in Fairbanks, Alaska in 1965. Since then 

 two working group meetings were held in Morges, Switzerland. Areas of needed 

 research were outlined, agreements were reached on standardizing research 

 methods and procedures and certain research problems assigned to individual 

 specialists in attendance. 



A review of harvest data reported by the involved countries indicates the arctic- 

 wide harvest of bears is now at least 1,250 annually. In 1969, the harvest by 

 country included 128 for Greenland, 346 for Norway, 406 for Canada, 298 for the 

 United States and a few for the U.S.S.R.. The harvest in Alaska is controlled by 

 that State which restricts the nimiber of permits issued to 300. It is illegal to 

 harvest females with cubs. For additional information see Attach. 4. 



