Greenland sets polar bear hunting quotas

Greenland has for the first time introduced hunting quotas on polar bears to protect the species threatened by global warming in the Arctic, but postponed plans to allow a limited tourist hunt, officials said Wednesday.
"The quota was set at 150 animals in 2006, and will be reviewed next year," Ole Heinrich of Greenland's fishing and hunting directorate told AFP.
"Only professional hunters with special permits issued by their local authorities are allowed as of January 1 to kill a maximum of 150 polar bears during the year," he said.
Hunters, who will not be allowed to hunt polar bear cubs or their mothers, can get up to 2,685 euros (3,250 dollars) for the pelt of a polar bear.
Meanwhile, plans to introduce polar bear safaris for tourists, where they would accompany an authorised hunter to kill a limited number of bears, will be postponed until 2007 at the earliest.