Polar bears in the town of Ittoqqortoormiit in eastern Greenland. Arctic Journal photo.
Eastern Greenland and specifically the town of Ittoqqortoormiit, have been forced to extend their polar bear patrols through the month of October, reports WWF Denmark, a conservancy.
The WWF-funded patrols had been scheduled to cease at the end of September, however due to the consistent high number of polar-bear sightings in and around the town of 500, the patrols will extend for an additional month.
After meetings between WWF representatives and Ittoqqortoormiit residents earlier in the year regarding interactions between humans and polar bears, the patrols were
According to the WWF, next year will see an expanded version of the polar bear patrols for local communities in eastern Greenland.
Churchill Photographer Alex De Vries – Magnifico captured these beautiful polar bear shots just recently. The fall colors of the vibrant tundra are especially rich this year. Polar bear season is coming quick and many bears are already gathering around Churchill. Recent counts confirmed 12 polar bears being held in the holding facility. This season should be an active one with high numbers of polar bears across the tundra!
Polar bear in the last days of fall in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Polar bear on the coast in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Curious polar bear along the coast in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Three polar bears investigating a research cable in the Southern Beaufort Sea.
A cable tethered to $200,000 worth of water sampling research equipment two miles below the southern Beaufort Sea was attacked by three polar bears. Ironically, the equipment is part of a study researching climate change.
The polar bears swam up to the research vessel deploying the equipment and began chewing on the cable securing the system to the ship. The researchers yelled out and waved arms frantically in order to dissuade the bears and ultimately scare them from the cable. With the cable in tact the research team raised the equipment and relocated to a new site away from the polar bear trio.
The video below portrays three healthy bears gnawing at the research cable. Researchers assured concerned viewers that the polar bears were in healthy condition overall.
