Since introducing the program, collaborative polar bear patrol, in 2010, WWF and the Hamlet of Arviat,
Nunavut, have dramatically reduced the number of polar bears killed
under Defence of Life and Property (DLP) regulations. WWF provides funding to help communities reduce instances of conflict
between polar bears and communities, including hiring guards to patrol
communities and scare away bears.
On February 27th 2016, before International Polar Bear Day, WWF released a video that documents the
increasing challenges that communities face from polar bears, and the
successful methods that keep both bears and people safer to celebrate this day. This program, daily patrols in peak bear season (September – December), particularly
at night, significantly reduce conflicts. Patrol teams have a range of
tools including cracker shells, rubber bullets, beanbags, flares and
live rounds.
I think this program successes reducing the number of conflicts between people and polar bears successfully. Even though throughout their range, there are increasing encounters between polar bears and people and this brings major risks to human life and property, but thing things have dramatically reduced the number of polar bears killed. This action brings benefit yet risks the patrol teams' life.
That is a bold movement from WWF to do that program and thankfully that there are no major accidents happened to the patrol communities so there are no more dangerous situation between people who want to observe the wild polar bear and no more wild poachers that can hunt the polar bear.
BalasHapusnice article, really educating :)