There are individuals who, for inexplicable reasons, find pleasure in killing an exotic animal – only to hang its carcass on a wall later. Worldwide, wealthy big-game hunters pursue this highly questionable passion. This no longer only affects hunting ranches in Africa, but also threatened species in the Arctic – such as polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and walruses (Odobenus rosmarus).
At the annual “Jagd & Hund” trade fair in Dortmund, such hunting trips can be booked quite officially.
Online as well as in catalogues, the hunting of polar bears is openly advertised. The website of one provider states:
“A walrus hunt in Canada is usually organised in combination with a polar bear hunt. However, individual hunts for walrus are also possible and we are happy to organise these for you. Hunting these Arctic colossi is certainly an experience that only a few foreign hunters are privileged to have.”
Another provider describes it as follows:
“The summer hunt also takes place under good hunting conditions. If a good bear comes into view during the stalk by boat along the coast, the boat docks and the polar bear is stalked on foot. On request, walrus is also hunted during the summer hunt for polar bears.”
However, the problem extends far beyond ethical concerns – it directly impacts nature at its core. Big-game hunters notoriously prefer particularly strong, healthy animals. Yet, precisely these vital individuals are crucial for maintaining a robust population. If they are selectively removed, it weakens the entire species over the long term.
Big-game hunters pay up to 30,000 euros for a single polar bear. At present, the hunted animals can still be imported legally into Germany – thanks to an exemption for hunting trophies applied by the German Federal Environment Agency (Bundesumweltamt), which is responsible for imports.
In cooperation with Pro Wildlife, we are campaigning against this absurd hunting. We find it reprehensible, senseless – and in every respect outdated!
You can view the direct sources here:
Westfalia-Jagdreisen catalogue for 2025 on p. 86: https://westfalia-jagdreisen.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Kataloge/Preisliste2025_WEB_01.pdf
Versch-Jagdreisen: https://www.versch-jagdreisen.de/kanada-arktis.html
Walrus, also available in combination with polar bear: https://westfalia-jagdreisen.de/amerika/kanada/walross
Mistral, another exhibitor offering polar bear and walrus:
https://www.mistral-jagd.at/wildarten/baeren/polarbaer
https://www.mistral-jagd.at/wildarten/walross
