Your cart is currently empty!
Polar bears
Arctic Basin (AB)
The large Arctic Basin (AB) area surrounding the North Pole has a very low densities, and the number of bears was until 2005 estimated to only 200 animals. It is known that bears from other subpopulations use the area. As climate warming continues, it is anticipated that the Arctic Basin, especially near the coastlines of the northern Canadian arctic islands and Greenland, may become more important for polar bears as a refuge.
Main threats: Climatic changes
Trend: Data deficient
[image type=”thumbnail” float=”none” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” src=”240″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”200″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Estimated number in 2004″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”0″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Polar bears killed in 2009-2013″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”” num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Polar bears killed in 2013″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”0″ num_suffix=”%” num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”of population killed in 2013″]
Baffin Bay (BB)
The Baffin Bay subpopulation is shared between Greenland and Canada. The number of polar bears in BB was in 2005 estimated to be less than 1,600 bears based on simulations using vital rates from the capture study and up-to-date Canadian and Greenland harvest records. In 2013 as much as 134 Polar bears was legally killed (human harvest) in the area, which is approx. 9% of the subpopulation.
Main threats: Hunting, climatic changes, oil exploration and pollution
Trend: Declining
[image type=”thumbnail” float=”none” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” src=”241″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”1546″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Estimated number in 2005″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”780″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#f00000″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Polar bears killed in 2009-2013″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”134″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#f00000″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Polar bears killed in 2013″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”9″ num_suffix=”%” num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”of population killed in 2013″]
Barents Sea (BS)
The size of the Barents Sea (BS) subpopulation was estimated, using aerial survey techniques, to be 2,650 (approx. 1900–3600) in August 2004. Ecological data indicate that the subpopulation grew steadily
during the first decade after protection from hunting in 1973, and then either continued to grow or stabilized. The home ranges of bears the Barents Sea area might overlap with those from Kara Sea (KS) and East Greenland (EG) subpopulations.
Main threats: Climatic changes and pollution
Trend: Stable
[image type=”thumbnail” float=”none” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” src=”276″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”2650″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Estimated number in 2004″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”15″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#f00000″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Polar bears killed in 2009-2013″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”3″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#f00000″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Polar bears killed in 2013″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”0″ num_suffix=”%” num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”of population killed in 2013″]
Chukchi Sea (CS)
Reliable estimates of population size or status based upon mark recapture or other techniques are not available for the CS. Until 2005 the estimated number of Polar bears in CS was though to be approx. 2000 bear. This subpopulation is believed to be declining based on reported high levels of illegal hunting in Russia (100-200 bears/year) combined with continued legal hunting in the United States (55 bears in 2013), and observed losses in sea ice habitat.
Main threats: Illegal and legal hunting and climatic changes
Trend: Declining
[image type=”thumbnail” float=”none” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” src=”281″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”2000″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Estimated number in 2004″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”655″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#f00000″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Polar bears killed in 2009-2013″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”155″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#f00000″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Polar bears killed in 2013″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”8″ num_suffix=”%” num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”of population killed in 2013″]
Davis Strait (DS)
The Davis Strait (DS) subpopulation in Canada and Greenland has the southernmost movements of Polar bears as far south as 47°N. Newly estimated survival rates are comparable to other subpopulations, but recruitment (litter sizes and litter production rates) is the lowest recorded for any polar bear subpopulation. 111 Polar bears was legally hunted in 2013, which is 5,1% of the population.
Main threats: Legal hunting and climatic changes
Trend: Stable
[image type=”thumbnail” float=”none” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” src=”242″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”2158″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Estimated number in 2007″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”480″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#f00000″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Polar bears killed in 2009-2013″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”111″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#f00000″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Polar bears killed in 2013″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”5″ num_suffix=”%” num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”of population killed in 2013″]
East Greenland (EG)
The East Greenland (EG) polar bears are thought to constitute a single subpopulation with only limited exchange with other subpopulations. No inventories have been conducted to determine the size of the polar bear subpopulation in EG, but until 2005 it was estimated to be approx. 2000 animals. Polar bears are hunted legally by the inuits and 60 bears was killed in 2013.
Main threats: Hunting and climatic changes
Trend: Data deficient
[image type=”thumbnail” float=”none” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” src=”291″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”2000″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Estimated number in 2004″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”295″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#f00000″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Polar bears killed in 2009-2013″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”60″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#f00000″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Polar bears killed in 2013″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”3″ num_suffix=”%” num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”of population killed in 2013″]
Foxe Basin (FB)
The Foxe Basin (FB) subpopulation contains the polar bears in the northern Hudson Bay area. During aerial surveys in 2009 and 2010 the number of bears was estimated to 2580 animals, which is almost the same as the estimates from 1994. Legal hunting level is quite stable at 100+ bears every year.
Main threats: Legal hunting and climatic changes
Trend: Stable
[image type=”thumbnail” float=”none” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” src=”289″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”2580″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Estimated number in 2010″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”545″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#f00000″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Polar bears killed in 2009-2013″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”106″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#f00000″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Polar bears killed in 2013″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”4″ num_suffix=”%” num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”of population killed in 2013″]
Gulf of Boothia (GB)
The Gulf of Boothia (GB) is in the hearth of the Canadian Polar bear territorium. The number of polar bears in GB was in 2000 estimated to 1592 animals. High natural survival and recruitment rates together with low hunting pressure (now increased by 50%) has resulted in the highest density of Polar bears in all 19 subpopolations (1 Polar bear per 107 km2).
Main threats: Increasing hunting pressure
Trend: Stable
[image type=”thumbnail” float=”none” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” src=”288″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”1592″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Estimated number in 2010″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”310″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#f00000″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Polar bears killed in 2009-2013″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”67″ num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#f00000″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”Polar bears killed in 2013″]
[counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”4″ num_suffix=”%” num_speed=”3000″ num_color=”#666666″ text_color=”#c3c3c3″ text_below=”of population killed in 2013″]
If you have comments to this article don’t hesitate to send an email to post@naturfokus.no
———
Further questions:
Why does the Polar bear management fail in Canada?
1. Very complex management system with local inuit rights
2. Sustainable hunting level based on hunting history, rather than population size.
3. Pressure from hunting organizations
4. For some reason conservation organizations don’t react on this situation.
[responsive_text selector=”.h-resp” compression=”0.95″ min_size=”32px” max_size=”54px”][responsive_text selector=”.p-resp” compression=”2.5″ min_size=”16px” max_size=”21px”][responsive_text selector=”.x-counter > span” compression=”2.5″ min_size=”14px” max_size=”18px”][responsive_text selector=”.x-counter > .number-wrap” compression=”0.85″ min_size=”32px” max_size=”72px”]
Leave a Reply