In 2024, an unusually high number of polar bears have been observed near towns and villages in South Greenland. According to Fernando Ugarte, head of the Mammals and Birds Department at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (Grønlands Naturinstitut), this phenomenon is attributed to the large amounts of “storis” (sea ice) that have moved southward this year. “The polar bears that we have in Southwest Greenland are coming to South Greenland with the pack ice. And this year, we have a significant amount of pack ice,” Ugarte stated.
Pack ice is sea ice that drifts from the Arctic Ocean down along Greenland’s east coast, ultimately reaching the warmer waters at Nunap Isua. Typically, this sea ice begins to melt around May; however, it has remained widespread in South Greenland throughout the summer this year. Many locals have had the opportunity to observe and film these impressive predators from their boats and cabins, and these recordings have quickly been shared on social media.
However, the presence of these large predators has not only sparked excitement. The mayor of South Greenland, Stine Egede (IA, Inuit Ataqatigiit, a left-wing political party), and the local sheep farmer association have responded by urging the Greenlandic government to increase the current polar bear quota. “If this serious situation is to be addressed, the quota of four polar bears in Kujalleq Municipality is far from sufficient,” Stine Egede wrote in an open letter.
She highlights the dangerous situations that have occurred when people have come too close to the bears. Despite this, Fernando Ugarte believes that increasing the hunting quota is not the optimal solution. According to Ugarte, the issue is not an explosion in the polar bear population but rather a cultural adaptation. He refers to countries like Norway and Canada where people live alongside polar bears as part of everyday life and have developed safety practices, such as carrying signal guns.
The total polar bear quota in Greenland stands at 156, with the quota for Kujalleq Municipality set at four. The discussion regarding quotas and human coexistence with polar bears continues as the pack ice pushes the bears further south.