Greenland Wildlife

Although they resemble bison, these rather strange looking animals are actually very large goats and can weigh up to 900lbs. With impressive horns and enormous shaggy coats they are an iconic Arctic species that likes to feed on the rolling tundra in small family groups.

Their wool is ten times warmer than cashmere, but hard to process making it expensive to buy. The best place to spot herds of these creatures, is Kangerlussuaq on Greenland’s west coast. However, they can be encountered on the tundra in a number of other locations.

This species of the deer family (also known as caribou in North America) has been living wild in Greenland for thousands of years and is the most widespread land mammal on the west coast. You are fairly likely to see reindeer on a hike on the tundra, particularly between Paamiut and Uummannaq.

Reindeer have always been an important prey for hunters and are shy as a result and quick to spook.

Only approx. 60 bird species are permanent residents to Greenland, their numbers swell to about 235 by the rich variety of summer migratory visitors. One of the most striking is Greenland’s largest breeding bird, the white-tailed eagle, seen around southern coasts.

The auk is the most common breeding bird, but fulmars are sighted more frequently. The eider is the most important breeding wildfowl in Greenland - particularly common in coastal regions all over the island. The ptarmigan breeds all over Greenland, with white plumage in winter and grey in summer. The snow bunting is a summer visitor and you can see two species of falcon - peregrine and gyr.

The coastal waters around Greenland teem with whales, with up to 15 species being natives or regular visitors. The best time to spot them is once the winter ice has retreated, from early June to late September.

The most commonly sighted varieties are humpback, fin and minke whales. Occasionally blue whales and pods of killer whales (orca) can also be spotted. The only whales that are year-round residents are bowhead, narwhal and beluga whales - all arctic species rarely sighted elsewhere. Whale hunting, for centuries an essential means of subsistence for Greenlanders, is still permitted, but strictly controlled by quotas.

The world’s largest land predator is an iconic symbol, emblematic of the Arctic and features in Greenland’s official coat of arms.

Significant numbers live in the northernmost parts of West Greenland and in Northeast Greenland - the most remote and uninhabited regions. It’s therefore extremely rare to see a living polar bear. However, they do occasionally appear in the south during the summer months, having drifted southwards down the east coast with the pack ice before coming ashore.

Your best chances of spotting a polar bear in Greenland is onboard an expedition ship in east Greenland.

The seas around Greenland are thronged with seals. Seal hunting has been an essential part of the local way of life for thousands of years, and continues to this day. None of the five local species is threatened with extinction.

The harp seal is the most common species of seal in Greenland. It arrives on Greenland’s southern coast around May from its breeding grounds around Newfoundland. The hooded seal is the largest of the five species, while the ringed seal - polar bears favourite food - is the smallest. The other two species, the bearded seal and the common seal, are relatively rare.

For wildlife, the summer and early autumn are definitely the best times to visit. The onset of summer’s warmer temperatures triggers the annual arrival of vast numbers of migratory birds - visiting only to breed, as well as whales.