There was some discussion earlier this year at this blog about polar bear numbers. We couldn't seem to agree whether numbers were increasing or decreasing and what would happen to bears if all the sea ice melted.
Well according to Dr. Mitch Taylor, a polar bear biologist who has just completed a three-year survey, polar bear populations along the Davis Strait are healthy and their numbers increasing.
According to Stephanie McDonald writing for The Northern News Service:
"Taylor and co-worker Dr. Lily Peacock have been working for the past three years on a polar bear inventory in the Davis Strait, the first in the area in 20 years. The Davis Strait encompasses the area from Cape Dyer on the eastern side of Baffin Island, through Cumberland Sound, and continues on to the area surrounding Kimmirut.
"Parts of Ungava Bay in Quebec and sections of Labrador are also included in the Davis Strait.
"The results of their study have yet to be released, but Taylor revealed last week that the numbers would be contrary to those released by the U.S. Geological Survey.
"Results will confirm hunters' impressions, that the polar bear population is productive," Taylor said.
Last year 841 polar bears were counted in the survey area and halfway through this year's survey, approximately 600 have been counted. Taylor estimates that this year's number could be as high as 1,000.
"When he started working for the Department of Environment 12 years ago, Sowdlooapik said that only one or two polar bears would wander through Pangnirtung in a year. Now, he receives almost daily reports of polar bears in popular camping sites, in outpost camps, and in the vicinity of the community.
"We could be looking at the possibility of increasing (hunting) quotas," Taylor said. "We are seeing high densities of bears in great shape."
"You are of course referring to my censored posts responding to the article"
No actually, I was referring to the personal attack or sniping tone you used in the post - pretty much the kind of personal attack you use on all posters you disagree with....
Thing is Patrick, you are perfectly capable of holding your own in a discussion without those kind of personal attacks and ad hom tactics ... they are simply not neccessary .. but for whatever reason, you choose that road instead...
your choice of course...
As to the censorship stuff ..
Is´nt this on your own blog?
"The right to free speech is recognised, the 'right' to abuse others and behave like a muppet is not. I will edit offensive material.
Moderator's judgement is final! :o)"
I get the impression that:
"the 'right' to abuse others and behave like a muppet is not. I will edit offensive material.
Moderator's judgement is final! :o)"
Is Precisely what Paul did ...
You are of course, free to disagree ;O)
'he´ll delete it like he did your ad hominem sniping post yesterday' - George
You are of course referring to my censored posts responding to the article - Greenpeace Rumbled - which included the quote by Mr Moore - 'They (Greenpeace' s new management) have become far more extreme, their politics little more than neo-Marxism in green garb.' - an accusation that apparently was OK to post; but my verifiable details of the long term Marxist activities of the Scientific Alliance's Scientific Advisory Forum member, Bill Durodié (who is not a scientist).. which interestingly were not OK to post...
Hi again Goodoo,
"Without the income from paying hunts they would not be able to aford to keep their dog teams fed and the tradition of dog teams would be lost."- Goodoo
Well, the tradition with dog teams has hardly anything to do with polar bear hunts since it's practised all around the northern parts of the Northern hemisphere, there are lots of sports dog sledge competitions everywhere....
As for the dog teams they are fed mostly with whale meat and blubber as I have understood...
I would not camp or hike in an area with PB unless there was at least two of us with guns. PB do not aproach because they are curious or to chase you off like other bears they approach to eat. Before the Inuit got guns and solid buildings they were often eaten by bears. I have read of cases where bears broke into less than solid homes and killed and ate whole families.
Before I camped in the artic I cheacked with locals how close the closest PB was. As it was summer I was asured that it was 250km. I was not very woried camping down south in areas with Brown and Black bears. Being an Ausie who is used to being at the top of the food chain I was still a bit concerned.
Don't know how to react when you encounter a PB, but when you meet a brown bear , try to walk away calmly. If this doesn't help , try to lie down and be immobile. Make yourself as little as possible.( Very easy to say). For the first time over 100 years a brown bear killed a human in Scandinavia last year.
Another story that I heard from a hunter was that one huner was attacked by a brown bear and reared so he kicked the bear in the the genitalia and the bear run away !
Link to George:
http://www.snf.se/verksamhet/djur-natur/rovdjur-bjorn-mote.htm
Sad end for young polar bear:
http://www.svalbardposten.no/nyhet.cfm?nyhetid=938
Russian scientists killed a 2 year old polar bear that got too near them ( 10 metres) . According to the Russians they had tried to scare the PB away ( with some shots) but the PB didn't care, so finally they had to shot the PB. ( It was in July).
PS. George, don't want to be picky but it's the sysselman;-)!!!! So you can impress your Norwegian friends!!!
Check out the link...
Gavin,
Re Tz´s or equivalent, here´s been a few folk eaten by PB´s in the last few years, I remember one young woman from Oslo on Spitsbergen and another was a professional Wildlfe Photographer from Japan with years of experience with PB´s ... they got him in his tent as far as I can remember.
On Svalbard ( Spitsbergen ) Once you see a polar bear You´re required by law to stop going in its direction and you are not allowed to approach it at all ...All good stuff - other wise the sisselman ( governor ) smacks yer fingers rather severely.
I have seen a documentry by a norwegian Filmer who spent part of a winter on Franz -josef land ( I think it was ) with a russian guy ... the russian guy was one serious alapha male - if PB´s approached the hut / camp - he´d go out and chase them away with a long chunk of driftwood ... the bears just could´nt figure him out ... so when in doubt - try whacking em on the nose with a bit o two by Four and see what happens :O)
George: Let’s ratchet up the standard for an exciting modern bear shoot.
Get one vintage dog sled and unarmed Inuit driver. Take one only TZ2 or 3 with 10 x Leica zoom, one only 250 m SD card, one only Lumix battery pack then grab a good close up of bear eyes square on before dark, repeat shooting for tooth count, then determine the age of targets in every case after a week of playing big white hunter.
Seriously; I have a lot of respect for those who can relate one to one with dumb creatures.
One night after poaching trout in a private stream I took my catch on the short cut through paddocks in the moonlight with out a torch. Swishing wet grass behind me alerted me to a large stalker and one smaller following. I felt the droplets and hot breath on my neck. I also felt the clinking nose chain behind my knees. Don’t turn, don’t run!
Ages later, I reached the extra stiff barbed wire fence and scaled it like a monkey after leaving both rods in the bull paddock. Jerseys on the neighbouring farm had killed the father on my school palls.
I can stare down a big guard dog or two and cower a police defence mutt marking my stuff but I have no idea on how we stand with bears. A cobber faced a big brown in the Rockies as he went for a quick relief out of sight of his borrowed car up the road. We guessed Bruno standing was probably as tall as the mate since he had the wit to use his swinging 35mm in retreat.
I guess a tourist takes chances everywhere these days but the best thing about having a TZ or equivalent, it should be handy in the shirt pocket at all times. A good picture can save a thousand words.
Oops, missed this question From Patrick Batty ..
"How many of the current Norwegian fleet are sailing ships used to launch rowing boats containing whalers using hand held harpoons?.. None..."
Ummm.. well spotted -not - note that the subject here is Inuit Patrick 😉
- or are you seriously trying to tell us that you only apply your definition of tradition to modern day whalers and NOT to the Inuit Batty?
Do make up your mind Sport
The topic is Polar bears AND inuit hunting Batty.. I´m sure if Paul thinks its off topic he´ll delete it like he did your ad hominem sniping post yesterday 😉
Soooo, Once again, which is it?
your statement was
"I have absolutely no problem with sustainable, aboriginal commercial hunting rights, using humane methods "
and you also stated :
" " 'Cultural tradition' is a favorite war cry of the pro-commercial whaling faction but 'tradition' requires hand held harpoons and rowing boats..... They cannot have it both ways "
Which is it? What do you actually beleive in ( if anything, rather than just having an agenda that is )
Let me spell it out for you
If "Tradition" requires hand held harpoons and rowing boats (actually, it would be skin boats/kayaks/canoes ) whilst hunting whales, "tradition" must also require non modern hunting equipment whilst hunting other prey such as polar bears, Walrus, seals etc...
It´s noted that, you are of course, trying to condecendingly dictate to the inuit what weapons and methods they can or cannot use during their hunts
Or are you simply lying through your teeth with the statements you made above and you don´t believe those statements you made to be true?
If however, you made a mistake and meant something else entirely, then by all means, feel free to explain to the readers what you actually DID mean .. I´m sure they are all ears...
Whilst you are at it, you could also adress these questions :
"So tradition requires hand held harpoons and rowing boats and you have no problem with humane methods being used - a hand held harpoon is more humane compared to a penthrite grenade is it?"
and
"So tradition requires spears and you have no problem with humane methods being used - a hand held spear is more humane compared to a high powered rifle is it?"
After all, spears are traditional Patrick, Right?
So which is it it Batty? tradition or humane? "
Patricks third way - squirm out of a direct answer has already been proven ;O)
It´s rather simple Batty, according to your statements above, If tradition requires hand held harpoons and skin boats whilst hunting whales, then of course, tradition requires similar "antiquated" methods in hunting other prey... and never mind about whether its humane or not
The converse is also true, If humaneness is the priority, modern technology used in conjunction with traditional methods, whist still retaining the traditional spiritual element would be the optimal solution.
It´s noted that you try to deny the inuit this option wth your statements...