Black market demand for polar bear skins continues to thrive. This is the sad conclusion ecologists reached following the seventh Runet (Russia's Internet domain) study sponsored by the Marine Mammal Council. Internet monitoring has been conducted since 2003. This time, its findings were not encouraging: no decline in the number of polar bear skins on the market was noted.

Nor has there been any change in the average price these skins fetch in light of the global financial crisis. In 2010, it even hit an all-time high, reaching $20,000. The difference between the minimum price ($3,000) and maximum price ($30,000) also increased. Scientists believe this was a result of the hunting quota introduced on polar bears.

Ecologists highlighted the recent decrease in advertising for trips to hunt polar bears. Hunting expeditions used to be passed off as photo tours, although their real goal was quite different. The researchers discovered that companies and individuals are now attempting to foster direct contact with people in Chukotka to organise commercial hunting trips there. Those who enjoy being photographed together with animals they have killed or relish the chance to fire even a single shot at a polar bear are ready to pay sizeable sums of money for the pleasure. These "hunters" usually leave with a fresh hide and arrange for it to be treated themselves.