Chukotka natives allowed to hunt for Polar Bears

Natives living on Russia's Chukchee Peninsula (Chukotka) were allowed to start hunting Polar bears this year.

Talking to RIA-NOVOSTI, officials at the Chukchee autonomous area's administration noted that the decision to open the bear-hunting season was adopted at a joint session of the Chukotka association of traditional wild-game hunters and the Alaska Nanuuq (Polar Bear) commission.

The session heard scientific projects aiming to study Polar bears, also discussing specific bear-hunting regulations for Chukotka.

An agreement on hunting Polar bears is to be signed between Chukotka and Alaska natives in September 2003.