Shock: 2004 prediction fails; Despite being hunted, Canada's polar bears still "doing well"

thestar.com iPhone : Hudson Bay polar bear population defying predictions, Nunavut survey says

IQALUIT, NUNAVUT—Nunavut says a new survey shows Canada’s polar bear population hasn’t significantly declined in the last seven years as predicted and that the iconic mammal has not been hurt by climate change.

An aerial survey done in August by the Nunavut government, in response to pressure from Inuit, estimated the western Hudson Bay bear population at around 1,000.

That’s about the same number of bears found in a more detailed study done in 2004. That study, which physically tagged the bears, predicted the number would decline to about 650 by 2011.

...Inuit hunters have insisted the population is healthy. They say they are seeing more polar bears and say they aren’t as emaciated or in the poor condition scientist suggest.

Gissing said this latest survey shows the bears are doing well, despite being hunted, and it may be time to re-evaluate the restrictions placed on the polar bear harvest.