Inupiat Whale Hunting in Alaska

Dr Hans Thewissen from North Eastern Ohio Medical University examines the remains of a bowhead whale carcass left by local Inupiat subsistence whale hunters in Barrow, Alaska. Thewissen is studying how bone density changes with age, and if bone weight and fat is regulated by hormones for the whale's buoyancy in the water. Shell's plans to drill offshore in the Alaskan Arctic in 2012 has divided the native communities of the North Slope Borough. Alaska's Arctic people now stand at a crossroads between continued benefits from industry generated revenues and protecting the marine environment they have depended on for thousands of years. The proposed offshore drill site is in the path of the bowhead whale's migration route. Many Inupiat hunters are concerned about Shell's lack of spill response capabilities if licenses are granted to drill offshore in the Arctic's Beaufort and Chukchi seas.

Restrictions

Ok for Greenpeace use and for approved external Greenpeace campaign related use. Contact the photographer directly or Greenpeace UK (photo.uk@greenpeace.org) for any other external licensing or sales.

Unique identifier: GP04CR2

Type: Image

Shoot date: 09/10/2011

Locations: Alaska, Arctic, Arctic Coastal Plain, Barrow (Alaska), North America, Point Barrow, United States of America

Credit line: © Rose Sjölander / 70°

Size: 5570px × 3713px 10MB

Ranking: ★★★★ (E)

Containers

Shoot:

70° North - Arctic Documentation

70° North is a multimedia project documenting the impact of climate change and resources exploration in the Arctic.
Shell's plans to drill offshore in the Alaskan Arctic in 2012 has divided the native communities who now stand at a crossroads between continued benefits from industry generated revenues and protecting the marine environment they have depended on for thousands of years. Shell's proposed offshore drill site is in the path of the bowhead whale's migration route. Many Inupiat hunters are concerned about Shell's lack of spill response capabilities if licenses are granted to drill offshore in the Arctic's Beaufort and Chukchi seas

Greenpeace is campaigning for a global sanctuary to be declared around the uninhabited area of the North Pole to save the Arctic from attempts by oil companies to exploit the region’s resources for short term profit.

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