January 3rd - Wildlife in Norway VI

The muskox’s horns are also formed in the same way as those of cattle and sheep and are not shed like the antlers of
a deer. Compact and round in shape, the muskox mostly resembles a prehistoric animal. Its large head with its characteristic horns is low and appears to be attached directly to its body. It has a long, shaggy coat beneath which
its legs are barely visible.
It takes its name from the strong musky odour of the male, which he emits from two facial glands by rubbing his head against his forelegs or against tussocks or stones. If we get too close, this rubbing of his head against his forelegs will often be the first sign of his dislike of us.

The muskox has its origins in Canada, Alaska and Greenland. It was imported from Greenland to Dovrefjell in Norway in 1932. The Norwegian population has since been supplemented and now numbers around 200.

An encounter with a Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) in its own environment is the dream of everyone who visits the Arctic. The polar bear is the very symbol of the northern polar areas, just as penguins are the signature species of Antarctica. The polar bear is reckoned to be the largest land predator in the world, rivalled only by the Alaskan Kodiak bear. The record-holding polar bear was shot in Alaska in 1960 and weighed 1003 kg, but they rarely reach this size. A full-grown polar bear on Svalbard weighs about 500 kg and usually has a maximum life span of 25 years. The oldest
polar bear recorded on Svalbard was a female aged 32. The population there is now estimated at about 1500.

Hunting of polar bears has been prohibited on Svalbard since 1973. Climate changes are starting to create serious problems for the polar bear and researchers are concerned about the recent developments in the Arctic. The absence of summer ice in the polar basin may become a reality in the course of this century. At the same
time the winter period when new ice is formed may become shorter. This will restrict both living areas and the possibility of hunting seal. Seal represents more than 90 per cent of the polar bear’s diet.

NK: 1777 - 1778
Date of issue: 3 January 2011
Values and subjects:
Kr 17,00: Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)
Photo: © Tom Schandy / NN / Samfoto
Kr 27,00: Muskox (Ovibos moschatus)
Photo: © Tom Schandy / NN / Samfoto
Design: Inger Sandved Anfinsen
Method of printing: Offset
Printing house: Royal Joh. Enschedé, Netherlands