Dear All.

 

I hereby announce the publication of the book: 

 

POLAR BEARS, Beloved & Betrayed, published June 2022, and available at:

 

https://www.polarbearsbelovedandbetrayed.com/

 

The relationship between humans and polar bears is complex. The human approach includes fascination, admiration, respect, concern, and benevolence - but also misunderstanding, fear, greed, over-exploitation, and mismanagement. On the background of sustainable co-existence which had lasted millennia, during the last few centuries humans have become a major factor negatively affecting the polar bear through environmental degradation and over-hunting.

 

While almost all informed parties acknowledge climate change / global warming as a threat to polar bear survival into the future, and quite consistently refer to that as ‘the major threat’ – the vast majority of stakeholders also overlook the threat of over-exploitation. Human interests of a varied assortment, from commercial over political to individual, lead to a skewed perception of the state of the polar bear and what can be done to prevent its extirpation.

 

The special status occupied by polar bears in human imagination and affection stands in stark contrast with the current management regime, which threatens the very existence of the animal. Recognizing all the human caused threats to polar bear survival is crucial, and is also key to making the necessary policy changes in time. Informing the public is the first step in such a recognition, and this book of 208 pages (including nearly 100 photographs) is one contribution to that effect.

 

 

Table of contents:

INTRODUCTION: SETTING THE SCENE

CHAPTER 1: BASIC POLAR BEAR BIOLOGY

CHAPTER 2: THREATS TO POLAR BEARS

CHAPTER 3: HUNTING AND COMMERCIALISATION

CHAPTER 4: THE POLAR BEAR POPULATION

CHAPTER 5: FAILED MANAGEMENT

CHAPTER 6: THE ABSENCE OF CONSERVATION

CHAPTER 7: INUIT IDENTITY

CHAPTER 8: PERSPECTIVES AND SOLUTIONS

EPILOGUE

Thank you.

Morten Joergensen