GNWT stops buying harvesters’ polar bear pelts, citing lack of demand

The NWT government says it is no longer buying polar bear pelts, nor providing advance payments for them, as they are no longer selling at auction.

In a Tuesday news release, the territory said polar bear pelts had not performed well at sales in recent years and there was a “limited market.”

Harvesters who sell a pelt privately for $1,750 or more can still earn a $450 “prime fur bonus” if they show the GNWT proof of the sale.

Only polar bear pelts are affected by the change. Forecasts show a “continued upward trend for the sale of many other types of pelts,” the GNWT stated.