New book about the seals of Greenland Published 18.01.2011
A new book about The Seals of Greenland has just been published by Ilinniusiorfik, the Greenlandic educational publishers. The book is written by Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid of the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources and presents the latest information about seals in Greenland in a way which is accessible to everyone.
The book is published in three editions: Greenlandic, Danish and English.
The book has been produced with support from the Aage V. Jensen Foundation and is the latest in a series of books which Ilinniusiorfik, the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources and the Aage V. Jensen Foundation have produced. Earlier books have been about winter whales, polar bears and walruses. Seals play a central role in everyday life in the Greenland of today. Indeed, the Greenlandic seal harvest is bigger than ever. Around 150,000 seals are caught annually and seal meat is an important resource for much of the population. For many of the approx. 2,500 full-time hunters, sealskin is the main source of income and around 55-75 people have until recently been employed at the Great Greenland tannery. In addition, many people work with skins privately or in small sewing workshops.
The new book has been written as a popular scientific presentation on the subject of the seals of Greenland. The aim has been a book that can be used by the Greenlandic educational institutions, as well as by those who have a general interest in Greenland’s nature and wildlife. It describes some of the seals’ common features, but focuses on the specializations which have given the various species their distinctive characteristics and roles in the ecosystem. Many people regard the seal as a single species, but it is actually a common term for a group of animals, of which six species are to be found in Greenland. There is therefore a wealth of opportunity to acquire a more nuanced understanding for oneself of what sort of creatures seals actually are. This book can help with that, at least where it concerns the Greenlandic seal species.
Scientist, Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, has written the books about the seals of Greenland. Photo: Fernando Ugarte
Order the book on-line at Atuagkat Bookstore
For further information contact Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, researcher with the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, telephone +299 36 12 47 or by post.
Or Head of Department, Fernando Ugarte: +299 36 12 42, e-mail feug@natur.gl
