Greenland: Ittoqqortoormiit – Polar Bear Skins
Polar bears are still hunted in Greenland, although the allowed hunt numbers are very limited. Only local Greenland residents with multi-year proof of residence are allowed to participate in the hunts (usually specifically allocated to communities), and any exploration of polar bear body parts is strictly prohibited outside of Greenland. In Ittoqqortoormiit, we saw three bear skins (with claws and head), drying up on special wooden platform in two different parts of the settlement. Sad as it looks, this is traditional part of local life, the hunts are highly anticipated and use old traditional way of hunting and chasing the bears with the Greenlandic huskies dogs.
