The sled hot dog culture in Greenland is unequaled , but the last two decades sadly saw its universe lessening , a raw study pronounce . Here ’s what is bechance .
The population of domestic dogs continues to increase every class and while this remains a arise job , a different kind of population job is brew up in the north in the Arctic regions . ostensibly , the phone number of sled dogs in Greenland has been quickly decrease in the last two decade .
A story inScience Magazineis spill light on the threat of extinction among sled click . The paper put the current number of sled frank at 15,000 , but it ’s undecipherable how long before they cease to exist .
Greenland is one of the few regions on Earth with a sled detent culture . If these animals evaporate , then the knowledge and applied science that goes with raising and training sleigh dogs disappear with it , too .
Stepping up to Save the Sled Dogs
To prevent the situation from exacerbate , a team of scientist from Denmark is stepping up . Professor Morten Meldgaard , who is ordinate with the Natural History Museum of Denmark , has get along up with at least 22 recommendations to save the sled domestic dog and maintain this unique culture .
The scientists are working towards creating a sustainable lifespan for these sleigh dog and their coach . The experts are also figuring out ways for this culture to flourish despite the threats of global warming .
One suggestion would be to utilize the sled dogs for tourists , transport , or to aid handicapped child . However , the expert ' recommendation might only work as long as the sled driver and conclusion - maker in politics Emily Price Post are unforced to embrace the ideas .
The Denmark experts are also working with the government of Greenland to make some 4,000 square kilometers of an area in the Arctic area a UNESCO World Heritage site . This way , the sled detent remain protected .
Reasons Sled Dog Culture is Dying
Meldgaard said that there are many broker lead to the risks of sleigh dog extermination . Apart from global warming , most multitude no longer use sled blackguard for transportation . Instead , they have snowmobiles to get to places .
It ’s also harder for family to raise sled andiron because of the lack of food and imagination in this region . These animals know on a diet of Pisces , but most of the supplies go to feed homo first , rather than the dog universe .
sleigh click are also more prostrate to educate diseases that make raising and tame these animals more ambitious . In reply , the Greenland government has set away millions of dollars to gestate out the inoculation of these animals . Ideally , the health project will take three years to dispatch .
History of Sled Dogs
Sled detent arrived with the Thule people in Greenland over a thousand years ago . The Thules are the antecedent of the Inuit ( Eskimo ) , who used the dogs for hunting icy bear and seals . They also trust on these animals for transportation . Studies have shownthat today ’s sled dogs are descendant of the Canadian Eskimo Dog .
As with any working dogs , sleigh dogs used to be very important in Greenland for their staying power , perseverance , and power to cover retentive distances when traveling . In the past times , south-polar expeditions included a number of sled dogs because these animals were strong enough to carry and draw pie-eyed containers through stale and harsh lands .
look at all of thehistory of detent , sled Canis familiaris were not ideal house positron emission tomography , however . Their temperament matches the environmental conditions in Greenland , and it would take a very firm human to keep these dog as pets . However , sled dog are very loyal and protective of their human being , just like any battalion member . Aside from the Thule and the Inuit , the Vikings also used sled domestic dog for their exploration and hunts .
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