WILDLIFE INTERACTION REPORT
VESSEL: M.V. GALILEO G PROJECT: Transit of the Northwest Passage, August 2016 GUIDE: Matt Drennan
Most observations were made while the ship was in transit, or cruising the area, which accounts for sightings being at a considerable distance. Only eight landings in total were made during the entire voyage, mostly at communities and one archaeological site. There were no negative interactions with wildlife and no disturbance recorded.
The minimum distance of 100 metres from Polar bears as recommended by NIRB was noted and maintained, exceeding the requirement of 30 metres as established by AECO. This recommendation was supplied by NIRB after the vessel had left Nunavut, however the guide had prior knowledge of this minimum distance.
DATE LOCATION SPECIES AGE & GENDER GROUP NOTES SIZE
04 August Baffin Bay, Pack ice, 72oN 68oW Polar bear 2 siblings, approx. 2 years of age 2 + 3 Sibling pair in close social contact Adult female with two cubs 09 August North end Coburg Island off SE Polar bear Adult male 1 Eating freshly-killed Ringed seal Ellesmere Island, pack ice 10 August East side of Cuming Inlet, south Polar bear Young male 1 Lying in grass shore of Devon Island 10 August Powell Inlet, south shore of Devon Walrus 50 Hauled out Island, head of fjord – two rocky islets on west side 10 August Powell Inlet, south shore of Devon Polar bear Spotted far inland Island, head of fjord, west side 10 August Burnett Inlet, south shore of Devon Walrus 20 Hauled out Island, rocky point east side 10 August Stratton Inlet, south shore of Devon Polar bear Adult female with two cubs of the 3 Viewed from distance Island – halfway up on west side year 11 August SW corner, Devon Island on Musk Ox Adult 4 Viewed from distance approach to Beechey Island 18/19 Ekalluk River, Wellington Bay, Musk Ox, Caribou, Rough- During fishing trip inland August 69o24’N 107o05’W legged hawk, Sandhill cranes, various Geese, Loons 20 August Nakyoktok River, Johansen Bay, Grizzly bear 2 adult, 1 immature 3 During hike inland Victoria Island 20 August Nakyoktok River, Johansen Bay, Wolf Adult 1 During hike inland Victoria Island 23 August West side Franklin Bay, beyond Musk Ox Adult 10 + 6 Observed in 3 groups – animals Smoking Hills, along 4-mile stretch of + 26 = viewed from a distance green grass 42 23 August West side Franklin Bay, beyond Caribou 27 Viewed from distance Smoking Hills, along 4-mile stretch of green grass 23 August West side Franklin Bay, beyond Grizzly bear Unknown 2 Viewed from distance Smoking Hills, along 4-mile stretch of green grass