From Polar Bear Science
Susan Crockford
Reports last week of unexpected large numbers of polar bears on the shores of eastern and southwestern Greenland have caused concern among locals and tourists. Greenland's former prime minister claims an unusually high number of bear sightings and bear problems near communities – including an attack that seriously injured a German researcher – are due to abundant offshore sea ice. This explanation is contrary to the predictions of polar bear experts: namely, that when there are shaobing Than usual. None of the bears seen were described as emaciated or hungry.
The Polar Bear Expert Group previously estimated there were only about 650 bears in eastern Greenland, while a recent study estimated there were 234 more bears in southeast Greenland.
“Polar bear boom could threaten Greenland explorers“(July 25, 2024)
Polar bears are no longer regularly seen in southern or western Greenland, but this year was an exception. Just yesterday, two incidents occurred near Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. According to Greenland’s former Prime Minister Aleqa Hammond, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
“West Greenland is full of bears this year,” she told ExplorersWeb. “This summer, people also got too close to towns in southern Greenland. Several polar bears were shot in Qaqortok because the bears were actually in the city.
“Another polar bear shot in Ittoqortoormiit“(July 25, 2024)
another polar bear He was observed and shot emergency in Ittoqortoormiit on Thursday morning. Greenland Police Chief Jørgen Madsen confirmed this to Sermitsiaq.
This is the second incident this week of a polar bear being shot during an emergency in Itokortumit. At around 19:30 on Tuesday night, the police received a report that a polar bear had been shot urgently.
Here, police can say the polar bear approached a dog cage and then made a beeline for a soccer field where children were playing.
“Man survives polar bear attack in Greenland” (July 30, 2024)
Last week, a polar bear attacked a German researcher in East Greenland. The researcher, part of a team on Trail Island, encountered the bear on Friday morning.
Place
Locations of sightings and problem bears include Ittoqortoormiit (two bears shot in the community), Traill Island (visiting researcher attacked in eastern Greenland), Nuuk (southwest Greenland), Qaqortoq (several bears shot in southern Greenland), Kang Trail between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut (2 bears seen in west Greenland).
Sea ice conditions in July 2024
The picture below shows the situation in East Greenland (NSIDC Masie) on July 20, 2024:
According to the NSIDC Masie chart below, sea ice is high this year as of July 31, 2024, but it was also high this time last year:
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