Polar Bears Proceedings of the Twelfth Working Meeting of the IUCN/SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group, 3–7 February 1997, Oslo, Norway Polar Bears Proceedings of the Twelfth Working Meeting of the IUCN/SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group, 3–7 February 1997, Oslo, Norway Compiled and edited by Andrew E. Derocher, Gerald W. Garner, Nicholas J. Lunn and Øystein Wiig Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species Survival Commission No. 19 IUCN – The World Conservation Union 1998 The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK Copyright: © 1998 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: Derocher, A. E., Garner, G. W., Lunn, N. J. and Wiig, Ø. (eds.) (1998). Polar Bears: Proceedings of the Twelfth Working Meeting of the IUCN/SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. v + 159 pp. ISBN: 2-8317-0459-6 Cover design by: Bookcraft Ltd, Stroud, Gloucestershire Cover photo: Wayne Lynch Layout by: Bookcraft Ltd, Stroud, Gloucestershire Produced by: IUCN Publications Services Unit Printed by: Page Brothers (Norwich) Ltd, UK Available from: IUCN Publications Services Unit 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 ODL, United Kingdom Tel: +44 1223 277894, Fax: +44 1223 277175 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.iucn.org A catalogue of IUCN publications is also available The text of this book is printed on Fineblade Cartridge 90 gsm made from low chlorine pulp. 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Further support for the centre is being offered by two NGO members of IUCN: the World Wide Fund for Nature – UK, and Conservation International, US. Contents Dedication . 3 Status of polar bears in Norway 1993–1996 A.E. Derocher, Ø. Wiig, I. Gjertz, K. Bøkseth, Foreword. 5 J.O. Scheie . 101 List of Participants . 7 Research and management of polar bear Agenda . 11 populations in the Russian Arctic 1993–1995 S.E. Belikov, A.N. Boltunov . 113 Minutes of the 12th Working Meeting of the IUCN/SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group. 13 Summary of polar bear management in Alaska S.L. Schliebe, T.J. Evans, A.S. Fischbach, Status of the polar bear . 23 S.B. Kalxdorff. 115 Evaluation of the polar bear in relation to the Polar bear research in Western Alaska, Eastern 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals and Western Russia 1993–1996 Ø. Wiig . 45 G.W. Garner, S.E. Belikov, M.S. Stishov, Ø. Wiig, A. Boltunov, G.I. Belchansky, Resolutions, 12th Meeting of the IUCN Polar D.C. Douglas, L.L. McDonald, D.M. Mulcahy, Bear Specialist Group. 47 S. Schleibe. 125 Press release . 49 Polar bear research in the Beaufort Sea Polar bear management in Canada 1993–1996 S.C. Amstrup, G.M. Durner. 131 N. J. Lunn, M. Taylor, W. Calvert, I. Stirling, Identification of polar bear den habitat in M. Obbard, C. Elliott, G. Lamontagne, Northern Alaska J. Schaeffer, S. Atkinson, D. Clark, E. Bowden, S.C. Amstrup, G.M. Durner. 141 B. Doidge . 51 Research on polar bears in Canada 1993–1996 Polar bear research in the Wrangel Island State W. Calvert, M. Taylor, I. Stirling, S. Atkinson, Nature Reserve, Russia, 1990–96 M.A. Ramsay, N.J. Lunn, M. Obbard, C. Elliott, M.S. Stishov. 147 G. Lamontagne, J. Schaefer . 69 Application of computer modelling to Issues pertaining to polar bear management understanding the ecology and population in Greenland dynamics of polar bears B. Rosing . 93 N.A. Øritsland, A.E. Derocher, I. Stirling . 153 Research on polar bears in Greenland, Appendix I Numbers allocated to each primo 1993 to primo 1997 country for use on polar bears eartags E.W. Born . 97 and tattoos. 159 Dedication established on Wrangel Island in 1969 for the purpose of studying polar bears. Investigations of the ecology and behaviour of polar bears in maternity dens during winter were carried out at this station and in other areas of the island by Professor Uspenski and his colleagues A. Kistchinski and S.E. Belikov until 1979, and later by other biologists from the State Nature Reserve. During 1980–90, studies of the ecology of polar bears also included Herald Island and the northern coast of the Chukotka peninsula, a primary objective of which was to count the maternity dens in each area. Later, these investigations were carried out in other parts of the Rus- sian Arctic as well. Although Professor Uspenski did not take part in the field work of these later expeditions, his support and advice were important to the success of the scientific programs. Professor Uspenski was born December 9, 1920 in the town of Zvenigorod, near Moscow. After studying at the Moscow Fur-Down Institute in 1937, he tied his future to the Arctic. Besides conducting research on polar bears, he studied birds, was instrumental in the development of the natural protected areas network in the Russian Arctic, and was one of those responsible for introducing muskox in Russia. In 1963, he defended his Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology on avifauna of high latitudes. He remained a member of the Polar Bear Spe- cialist Group until after the 10th Working Meeting of the Group, which was held for the first time in Russia, in autumn 1988. Professor Savva M. Uspenski, the well-known Russian biologist and one of the original members of the Professor Uspenski published over 200 scientific IUCN/SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group, passed away papers, brochures and books. His books include The on April 17, 1996. Professor Uspenski conducted much Birds of the Soviet Arctic, Polar Bear, and scientific- popular books such as The Home of the Polar Bear, of the original research on polar bears in Russia. His Living on the Ice, and others. Some of his books have first expedition, in 1964, was dedicated to the study of been translated into German and English.