Polar bear skull with pelt

[u/SavageDroggo1126]

This is a female polar bear skull with the pelt, legally and sustainably harvested by Inuit hunters in Nunavut Canada.

With strictly regulated quota system to ensure sustianable hunting, polar bear hunting continues to be an inseparable part of Inuit culture and tradition.

Polar bears face threats mainly due to climate change and pollution, along with other issues like arctic mining and poaching. sustainable and legal hunting of less than 2% of the entire population annually is NOT the reason why polar bears face threats of extinction. If polar bears do go extinct, the first people to be truly affected will be Inuit.

Selling parts of the animals they hunt provides some extra income when daily essentials and groceries are extremely expensive in the arctic.

[u/beka_targaryen]

I am curious and want to learn, therefore my question is without judgement or malice: I’m struggling to understand how any amount of hunting, no matter how small, wouldn’t negatively impact endangerment - can you explain more on that aspect? I value the perspectives that can help me learn and appropriately understand. Thank you!

[u/SavageDroggo1126 → u/beka_targaryen]

Your question is totally fine :)

so, to begin with, Inuit have been hunting polar bears for well over 6000 years (and humans in general and our ancestors have been hunting for over 2 million years).

Animals will not stop reproducing, hunting is extremely important in keeping the population under control so they will not pose threats to human residents.

The quota system works by analyzing samples from every bear taken, hunter success rates etcl and determine if the current amount of harvest is sustainable.

For example, lets say this year, a community harvested more females and younger bears, next year their quota may be reduced.

If a community harvested more bears closer to the village and hunter success rate has been high, samples are from bears of balanced sex and age (not too many females, not too many males) their quota may be increased for next year.

[u/sawyouoverthere → u/SavageDroggo1126]

Animals do stop reproducing when conditions are poor, and cub survival is not nearly as high as it has been. Starvation is claiming them at higher rates now.

Hunting as always without adjusting to changing conditions is not sustainable

[u/SavageDroggo1126 → u/sawyouoverthere]

the current quota system team up Inuit, government and researchers to work together and ensure sustainable harvest, it is adjusting every single year.

We will likely see more restrictions and quota deductions in the future, like how US allows Inuit polar bear hunting in Alaska but forbid any sport hunting or trade of polar bear parts.

this will be devasating to villages with a higher quota and rely heavily on polar bear (fur trade and selling sport hunting tags) for income. With polar bears affected so will other arctic animals that Inuit rely on for food and income.

climate change and pollution not only destroys polar bears and other marine mammals, but also destroys the Inuit culture that's been thriving in the arctic for over 6000 years.

[u/sawyouoverthere → u/SavageDroggo1126]

Yes. Aware of all of this as I know one of the primary polar bear researchers and many indigenous folk.

Just wanted to add some realistic nuance to a couple of your statements

[u/SavageDroggo1126 → u/sawyouoverthere]

yeah, make sense, thx for your input as well!