Less invasive ways of surveying polar bears would include aerial counts and the use of biopsy darts, which would provide scientists with tissue samples without them having to handle the bears. (CBC)

Scientific efforts are underway in Nunavut to develop less invasive ways of surveying polar bears, addressing Inuit concerns about the physical handling of bears.

Older surveys employ a "mark and recapture" method, in which biologists tranquilize polar bears before physically taking tissue samples and tattooing their inner lips.

"What we're looking at is developing aerial survey methodogy to use in the future in determining population estimates," Drikus Gissing, the Nunavut government's director of wildlife management, told CBC News.

The new method, which involves counting polar bears from a helicopter, was recently tested at Sirmilik National Park as part of a pilot project funded by Parks Canada, the University of Minnesota and the World Wildlife Fund.

Bears counted

A field team of scientists and Inuit hunters flew about 2,500 kilometres back and forth over the park, located between the communities of Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay.

Elijah Panipakoocho of the Mittimatilik Hunters and Trappers Organization in Pond Inlet told CBC News that some team members counted polar bears along the coast line, while he told them each bear's gender and health status.

Speaking in Inuktitut, Panipakoocho said the team saw 62 polar bears in the area, which is considered to be a lot at this time of year.

"It's a non-intrusive, non-invasive form of censusing polar bears," said Pete Ewins, wildlife director with the World Wildlife Fund Canada.

Ewins said he hopes the aerial surveying technique will eventually be used for full polar bear surveys in the Baffin Bay area, and end years of disagreement between biologists and Inuit hunters about the size of its polar bear population.

Biopsy darts

To obtain more detailed biological information about polar bears, Gissing said, scientists are trying out biopsy darts, which would be shot into the bear from the helicopter.

When the biopsy dart later falls off the bear, it would take with it a small bit of tissue that can be genetically analyzed.

Gissing said his department is listening to Inuit hunters who are concerned about scientists physically handling polar bears for research.

"We don't have to go and dart and handle the bears physically, and that's what communities want," Gissing said.

The Nunavut government has also been testing the aerial survey method to count polar bears in Foxe Basin for the last two years.

Gissing said aerial surveying will never be as effective as the "mark and recapture" method, but it would be a less intrusive way that still generates information that can be used in wildlife management.