Grizzly - Polar Bear Hybrid
The current issue of Nature celebrates Linnaeus’ 300th birthday with a series of editorials, essays and features on the continuing work of taxonomists. One of the more provocative articles discusses the definition of species, including the status of the beloved polar bear, Ursus maritimus.
Polar bears are more closely related to some brown bears (Ursus arctos) then some brown bears are to each other. While the interrelationships of these species (and subspecies) is a surprise, it has long been known that the animals are closely related and has been evidenced (rarely) by the hybridization of the polar bear and the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis).
This hybrid, though extremely rare, has occurred in captivity and has long been storied in arctic legends. In 1864 biologist, Clinton Hart Merriam, described an animal killed at Rendezvous Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada as "buffy whitish with a golden brown muzzle". A century later, Clara Helgason remembers a bear shot by hunters on Kodiak Island during her childhood in 1943 as "a large, off-white bear with hair all over his paws".
The most recent sighting of the rare hybrid was made, unfortunately, after its death. On April 16, 2006, Jim Martell, a sport hunter from the United States, shot a grizzly–polar bear hybrid near on Banks Island, Northwest Territories, Canada. Martell had paid $50,000, for an official license and a guide to hunt polar bears in Canada’s arctic.
Martell shot what appeared, at a distance, to be a polar bear but officials noticed that beyond the thick, creamy white fur, typical of polar bears, the animal also had long claws; a humped shoulder, scoop-shaped snout and brown patches around its eyes. The hybrid was confirmed by a DNA test.
The government returned the carcass to Martell. Though the hybrid species has no conservational value (like white tigers), it is an amazing phenomenon and I am sad the hunter kept his prize. I think he should have been compensated and asked to donate the pelt to a museum where others could learn about the phenomenon.
Lastly, I will note that the US government is considering giving polar bears a ‘threatened’ status. The Canadian government has a different perspective as anecdotal evidence from aboriginals and official wildlife surveys indicate the polar bear population in Canada actually appears to be growing. This of course is a notion that doesn’t appeal to Prime Minister Steven Harper, as he is a proponent of climate change and the growing polar bear population does not fit well into his campaign. But that is a debate for another posting.
Regardless of controversy surrounding these amazing animals I hate that the government advocates rich people throwing out $50,000 for the opportunity to shoot one of these creatures. It is one more example of how Canada continues to sell its natural resources and decimate its environment for a few greenbacks.
Marris, E. 2007. Linnaeus at 300: The species and the specious. Nature 446, 250-253.
Roach, J. May 16, 2006. Grizzly-polar bear hybrid found -- but what does it mean? National Geographic News.
11 comments:
Here in Canada, Stephen Harper is well known as a climate change denier. In 2002, he infamously called the Kyoto accord a "socialist scheme" designed to suck money out of rich countries...We're gearing up now for the biggest struggle our party has faced since you entrusted me with the leadership...I'm talking about the 'battle of Kyoto' — our campaign to block the job-killing, economy-destroying Kyoto accord."
Beyond that, I'm sure he would support the privatization of wildlife management.
The government returned the carcass to Martell. Though the hybrid species has no conservational value (like white tigers), it is an amazing phenomenon and I am sad the hunter kept his prize. I think he should have been compensated and asked to donate the pelt to a museum where others could learn about the phenomenon.
If this very rich person who paid all this money was just a regular guy who had a license to kill one species and instead killed another, he'd simply be fined and the kill confiscated. This would likely apply to hybrids as well.
I'm not saying that I think that would be fair, nor am I specifically suggesting it. But I am saying that it smells like a case of differential treatment.
I'm glad I ran into this post. I had just been wondering if there were such hybrids.
Its disgusting,hunting these rare animals they are dying out due to the climite its hard enough for these wonderfull animals someone should pay money to shoot Mr Martell and the Canadian goverment, they should be ashamed as well as the clubbing of seals,Canada you are one shameless country,no compassion, just brash and sick.
canadas govt sucks bigtime they make believe there civilized the they allow the clubbing of baby seals wat a bunch of godless hypocrites..canada is as bad as japan and russia and china
Im sorry but the American Govt isnt anything special either, we kill off Wolf, Cougar and other predatory animals to make way for stupid sheep, goats and cattle and then get pissed when they kill our livestock, the death of 700 out of 800 wolves is no joke, im not defending other countries but look at our own before you point the finger at someone else.
this guy is a regular average guy who saved up his money to go hunting.. there is no way he knew from a distance that this was not a reg. polar bear. who knew it was a hybrid.. noone knew until DNA testing was done. he did not do anything wrong and he is not getting any special treatment he accidently shot a hybrid so what it happens. if you were out there a saw the polar bear wouldnt u have shot at it. YES you would of. it looks just like a reg polar bear inless you look closely at the eyes paws and snout. i applaud the goverment officals for doing right by him and allowing him to keep this once in a life time pelt. he is a 65 yr old man. who knows how much longer he will be around. like i said before. just leave the man alone.
Kill the man, sell his pelt on ebay. I am sicken that anyone could kill a bear. Men !!!
Beyond me what someone gets out of killing something like that. With his modern, very accurate rifle, does it make him feel more like a man? Can't understand what is missing in this individual's life so as to try and fill some void in his life by taking a life. Go figure.
This is a very interesting story. I have a question though. The geneticists said after study of it's dna, it's mother was a polar bear. If this is true it would seem strange to me that the bear would not have the eating habits of a polar bear, since they learn hunting and eating habits from their mmother. The documentary I watched on National Geograghic showed that the bear had a wide range of foods in it's stomach, including many small animals such as ground squirrels, which polar bears do not eat. It seems to me that the bears mother must have been a grizzly since it seemed to have the eating habits of a grizzly. Also, polar bear flesh according ro the show has a strong smell of seal and fish, which this bear did not.
First off I'm the "MAN's" grandson, and think of what your saying " kill the man he shot a bear" if that's what you think the you are the bad person here , he was born poor an acoholic father lived under a bridge once , but that fought him to be a good hard working man who worked hard to build our company and become a sucsesful man. Hunting is his life I can't imagin him not hunting , so if you want to take away his well deserved prize than take a look in the mirorr and then tell me who the bad person is...
M.Martell
His father was an acoholic not him
M.Martell
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