The Gray Wolf- Canis Lupus
The Gray Wolf is an ice age survivor originating during the Late Pleistocene around 300,000 years ago. DNA sequencing and genetic drift studies indicate that the gray wolf shares a common ancestry with the domestic dog and might be its ancestor. Though once abundant over much of Scandinavia, the gray wolf inhabits a very small portion of its former range because of widespread destruction of its habitat, human encroachment of its habitat, and the resulting human-wolf encounters that sparked broad local extinction. Today, wolves are protected in some areas, hunted for sport in others, or may be subject to extermination as perceived threats to livestock and pets.
The Arctic Fox-Alopex lagopus
The Arctic Fox is also known as the White Fox or Snow Fox, it is a small fox native to cold Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The conservation status of the species is good, except for the Scandinavian mainland population. It is acutely endangered there, despite decades of legal protection from hunting and persecution. The total population estimate in all of Norway, Sweden, and Finland is now a mere 120 adult individuals. This population decreased drastically around the start of the 20th century as a result of extreme fur prices which caused severe hunting. The population has remained at a low density for more than 90 years, with additional reductions during the last decade. The total population estimate for 1997 is around 60 adults in Sweden, 11 adults in Finland and 50 in Norway.
European crayfish- Astacus astacus
The European Crayfish was once the most common species of crayfish in Europe, and is a traditional food. Like other crayfish, the European crayfish is restricted to fresh water, living only in unpolluted streams, rivers and lakes. nce abundant in Europe, although it was expensive to buy, and is considered to be the finest edible crayfish. It is, however, susceptible to the crayfish plague carried by the invasive American species Signal Crayfish, and is therefore listed as "vulnerable".
The Basking Shark- Cetorhinus maximus
The Basking Shark is the second largest fish, after the whale shark. It is a slow moving and generally harmless filter feeder. Like other large sharks, basking sharks are at risk of extinction due to a combination of low resilience and overfishing to supply the worldwide market for the shark's fins, flesh and organs. It prefers waters between 8 and 14° C (46 and 57° F). It is often seen close to land and will enter enclosed bays. The shark will follow concentrations of plankton in the water column and is therefore often visible on the surface. They are a highly migratory species leading to seasonal appearances in certain areas of the range. Historically, the basking shark has been a staple of fisheries because of its slow swimming speed, unaggressive nature and previously abundant numbers. Commercially it was put to many uses: the flesh for food and fishmeal, the hide for leather, and its large liver for oil. It is currently fished mainly for its fins (for shark fin soup). Parts (such as cartilage) are also used in traditional Chinese medicine and as an aphrodisiac in Japan, further adding to demand. It is tolerant of boats and divers approaching it and may even circle divers, making it an important draw for dive tourism in areas where it is common.
The Wolverine- Gulo gulo
The Wolverine is the largest land-dwelling species of the weasel family. The wolverine lives primarily in isolated northern areas, for example the arctic and alpine regions. The world's total wolverine population is unknown. The animal exhibits a low population density and requires a very large home range. The range of a male wolverine can be more than 620 km (240 sq mi) while encompassing the ranges of several females. Adult wolverines try for the most part to keep non-overlapping ranges with adults of the same sex. Radio tracking suggests an animal can range hundreds of miles in only a few months.This requirement for large territories brings wolverines into conflict with human development, and hunting and trapping further reduce their numbers, causing them to disappear from large parts of their former range; attempts to have them declared an endangered species have met with little success.
The Harbor Seal- Phoca vitulina
The Harbor Seal is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. Local populations have been reduced or eliminated through outbreaks of disease and conflict with humans, both unintentionally and intentionally. While it is legal to kill seals which are perceived to threaten fisheries in the United Kingdom, Norway, and Canada commercial hunting is illegal; the seals are also taken in subsistence hunting and accidentally as bycatch in fishing nets. In Sweden stricter protection applies, and it is illegal to kill any seals or any marine mammals.
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