566 



The polar bear is given total protection in the Soviet Arctic. It is also protected 

 in special reserves located at Kong Karl's Land (Norway), James Bay (Canada) 

 and Wrangell Island (U.S.S.R. ). The Soviet scientists indicated that plans are 

 being made for additional reserves on Taimyr Peninsula, Chukchi Peninsula and 

 northeast Yakutsk. Cul>s, and sows with cubs, are protected throughout much 

 of the animal's circumpolar range. 



As a result of progress toward the research objectives, some agreement emerged 

 at the meeting concerning migrations of polar bears, the i)ossible discretness of 

 certain population, and other related matter. Unfortunately, it al.so became 

 apparent that scientific information was still not adequate on which to base a 

 precise estimate of the abundance of the species ; a matter of critical importance 

 in determining the true international status of the polar bear and the measures 

 necessary for its conservation. While the group as a whole did not attempt an 

 estimate of the total number of polar hears throughout the Arctic, the Soviet 

 scientists indicated they did not believe the total exceeded 10,000 animals. This 

 was considered as being much too low by scientists from the other countries, and 

 no concensus could be reached. 



The rapid rate of economic development in several key areas of the Arctic was 

 discussed, and the scientists unanimously agreed that serious ecological problems 

 may result to plague the polar bear and other Arctic fauna and flora unless 

 proper precautions are taken immediately. Problems of oil spills and offshore oil 

 drilling were examined, as well as increased illegal kills of polar bear and other 

 anjmals by oil crews. Concern was also expressed that growing markets for polar 

 bear hides will result in an increased harvest by Eskimos. 



The Danish delegate pointed out that polar bear hunting was an intrinsic part 

 of the culture of the Thule Eskimos in Greenland, in addition to being a very 

 important .source of food and clothing. While it will be very hard for them to 

 change their way of life, he noted that this undoubtedly will be necessary be- 

 cause the Eskimo population is growing more rapidly than the polar bear popu- 

 lation. Hunting of polar bears in Greenland is restricted to residents of one year 

 or more. The Danish delegate discussed plans to establish a natural park in 

 northeast Greenland in an area encompassing important polar bear denning 

 sites. He also indicated all hunting regulations in Greenland would be revised 

 and tightened in the next year. 



The scientists expressed alarm that far-reaching proopsals advanced to the 

 Norwegian government in 1968 for more effetcive polar bear conservation in 

 Spitzbergen had not yet been implemente<l. Under present regulations, trophy 

 hunters in Norwegian waters may kill only one bear a year and are not permitted 

 to take cubs or sows with ciibs ; but the greatest proportion of the harvest (ap- 

 proximately 300 per year) is taken by professional hunters and trappers using 

 set guns, and by meteorological crews and other wintering parties, none of whom 

 are restricted by regulations. The Survival Service Commission of lUCN was 

 requested to write the Norwegian government urging immediate adoption of 

 regulations to correct this situation. 



The Canadian delegate noted that .sport hunting of polar bear had recently 

 been authorized by the Northwest Territories government. Prior to this action, 

 hunting of polar bear throughout the Canadian Arctic had been limited to 

 Eskimos. According to the delegate, trophy hunting will be carried out within a 

 strict quota system and should not result in an increase of the total harvest in 

 Canada which amounts to approximately 350 to 400 animals per year. Also dis- 

 cussed was the rapidly growing use in recent years of mechanized snowmobiles 

 by Eskimos to hunt polar bear which has greatly increasetl pressures on the re- 

 source in Canada as well as most other Arctic regions. 



The hunting of polar bear off the coast of Alaska by big game trophy hunters 

 using aircraft continued to produce a note of discord among the delegates, just 

 as it had at the 1908 meeting. An average of approximately 300 ix)lar bear are 

 taken annually in northern Alaska waters and on the offshore icepack in inter- 

 national waters. Only two decades ago, nearly all polar bears were taken in this 

 region by Eskimos using dog teams, but today over ninety percent of the kill is by 

 affluent sportsmen from the United States. The total number of animals taken 

 annually has increased greatly during this period. Regulation of hunting, which 

 is under the jurisdiction of the Alaska state government, has been increasingly 

 restrictive during recent years but has been only partially successful in con- 

 trolling the number of animals taken each year owing to the growing demand for 

 these hunts. A problem of illegal hunting of polar bear has also developed in 

 recent years. As a result, the Alaska government plans to institute a strict per- 

 mit system in 1970, aimed at keeping the total harvest at 300 to 350 animals 



