Polar bears in northwest Greenland

The rationale for this survey was the indication that the catch of polar bears in Northwest Greenland had increased since the early 1990s, simultaneously with marked changes in weather conditions, sea ice cover, and glaciers. Building on information provided by 72 polar bear hunters living in Greenland's towns of Qaanaaq and Upernavik, this study offers important discussions about polar bear biology, polar bear catch, climate change, and the effect of these changes on the polar bears. The survey also presents the demography of the catch of polar bears in the area during 1952-2005, described on the basis of 588 catches.