Greenland: Quite hunting quotas for polar white bears

In the face of the threat of survival of the polar bear, the Greenland government recently introduced a hunting limit for this animal. Currently, the world only has 7,500 children.

Polar bear ( Artwork from foreign website )

This limit measure is designed to preserve polar white bears in Greenland when their natural habitats are threatened by climate change in the Arctic.

Scientists say global warming melts ice caps where white bears hunt, making it difficult for them to find food. It is estimated that there are about 7,500 Arctic white bears in Greenland - the world's largest island, Denmark's semi-autonomous territory, mostly in the northern and eastern parts.

Greenland's Fishing and Hunting Steering Committee said the 2006 Arctic white bear hunting quota was 150.

Quotas are largely divided among villages in this region, including Upernavik, Qaanaaq and Ittoqqortoormiit.

Southern towns like Nanortalik, Qaqortoq and Narsaq are allowed to hunt up to two polar bears.

In recent years, white bears have appeared near these localities after being trapped on floating ice sheets to the south.

According to the Steering Committee for Fishing and Hunting, the above hunting quotas will be reviewed annually.

Only Greenland residents with valid hunting permits are allowed to hunt polar bears.

Earlier, hunters in Inuit killed about 250 white bears in Greenland each year for skin and meat.

Currently, there are no plans to allow foreign hunters.

Vu Minh Thuong