514 



Management of the walrus in Alaska has consisted of the following measures : 



1. The only major hauling ground regularly used by Walrus in Alaska, Round 

 Island of the Walrus Islands in northern Bristol Bay, has been designated as a 

 refuge and complete protection is provided there. 



2. The annual harvest of walrus is controlled and the regulations gO(verning the 

 harvest favor the taking of adult males. Since the walrus is polygamous, taking of 

 adult males, within limits, is not detrimental to the population. 



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

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

 100 thousand in the .ering 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 United States and the U.S.S.R. Proper management and regula- 

 tion of the harvest of this species, therefore, is dependent on international co- 

 operation. At present there is no international agreement governing harvest of 

 walrus. 



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 wlhich 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 1,500 animals. 

 Since 1909, 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 pres- 

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



POLAR BEAR 



The distribution of the i)olar 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, re- 

 search has been lacking. There has, however, been an intensification of investiga- 

 tions on this species in recent years. 



A cooperative study of polar bears currently 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 t>y 

 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 number of permits issued to 300. It is illegal to 

 harvest females with cubs. 



'Hunting parties originating in -^aska are required to submit all skins and 

 skulls of iwlar hears to the Game Commission so that age data may be obtained. 

 Data from bears harvested in Alaska show that the averge age of males has been 

 declining since 1966. This means that younger and smaller bears are being taken, 

 but not necessarily that the population has been harmed. The survival of young 

 bears is thought to be enhanced by the removal of older males since they are 

 known to be cannibalistic. Consideration should be given to reducing the kill, 

 however. In order to maintain a better balanced age ratio. 



Management of the polar bear is complicated by the fact that five nations have 

 direct interest in this species. Individual bears range extensively over the arctic 

 and it is not known whether any nation has truly a resident population of polar 

 bears. Any management program, to be .successful, must be based on international 

 cooperation between the nations concerned. 



