A group of narwhal whales. Tusks of the narwhal whale were once sold as unicorn horns and were immensely valuable. Today narwhal ivory can still fetch large sums and the whales are legally hunted by some Inuit groups. The replacement of traditional weapons by rifles has resulted in many more narwhal being killed or wounded than being retrieved. Hunters have to get near enough to the edge of the ice to retrieve the narwhal with a grappling hook. Figures vary, but it is estimated that from 30 percent to 70 percent of those shot are lost.

Two narwhal males stroke each other in a behavior called tusking. Tusks of the narwhal whale were once sold as unicorn horns, and were immensely valuable. Today, narwhal ivory can still fetch large sums and the whales are legally hunted by some Inuit groups. Hunters shoot the whales for their ivory and some skin, but much of the meat goes to waste.

A pod of male narwhal rests in a melt-hole in the spring sea ice. Tusks of the narwhal whale were once sold as unicorn horns and were immensely valuable. Today narwhal ivory can still fetch large sums and the whales are legally hunted by some Inuit groups. Hunters shoot the whales for their ivory and some skin, but much of the meat goes to waste. Two narwhals surface to breathe. After long dives they are desperate for air. Narwhal tusks fetch large sums, and the whales are legally hunted by some Inuit groups. The whales must be killed as they surface for air, while their lungs are full. Otherwise they will sink into the ocean. The replacement of traditional weapons by rifles has resulted in many more narwhal being killed or wounded than being retrieved.

Innuit men wait for narwhal whale to surface. The whales must be killed as they surface for air, while their lungs are full, otherwise they will sink into the ocean. The replacement of traditional weapons by rifles has resulted in many more narwhal being killed or wounded than being retrieved. Figures vary, but it is estimated that from 30 percent to 70 percent of those shot are lost. Tusks of the narwhal whale were once sold as unicorn horns and were immensely valuable. Today narwhal ivory can still fetch large sums and the whales are legally hunted by some Inuit groups. Hunters shoot the whales for their ivory and some skin, but much of the meat goes to waste.

A freshly killed narwhal bleeds on an ice shelf. The whales must be killed as they surface for air, while their lungs are full, otherwise they will sink into the ocean. The replacement of traditional weapons by rifles has resulted in many more narwhal being killed or wounded than being retrieved. Figures vary, but it is estimated that from 30 percent to 70 percent of those shot are lost. Tusks of the narwhal whale were once sold as unicorn horns and were immensely valuable. Today narwhal ivory can still fetch large sums and the whales are legally hunted by some Inuit groups. Hunters shoot the whales for their ivory and some skin, but much of the meat goes to waste.

Hunters take the blubber from beneath the skin of a narwhal. Known as 'muktuk', this skin and blubber is seen as a delicacy and is rich in Vitamin C. Hunters shoot the whales for their ivory, skin and 'muktuk', but much of the meat goes to waste. Tusks of the narwhal whale were once sold as unicorn horns, and were immensely valuable. Today narwhal ivory can still fetch large sums and the whales are legally hunted by some Inuit groups.

A narwhal whale after a hunt. During summer hunts, hunters use boats to push narwhal into the shallows and shoot them. Tusks of the narwhal whale were once sold as unicorn horns and were immensely valuable. Today narwhal ivory can still fetch large sums and the whales are legally hunted by some Inuit groups.

The head of a male narwhal lies on the ice before hunters remove its tusk. Tusks of the narwhal whale were once sold as unicorn horns and were immensely valuable. Today narwhal ivory can still fetch large sums and the whales are legally hunted by some Inuit groups. Two narwhals surface to breathe. After long dives they are desperate for air. Narwhal tusks fetch large sums, and the whales are legally hunted by some Inuit groups. The whales must be killed as they surface for air, while their lungs are full. Otherwise they will sink into the ocean. The replacement of traditional weapons by rifles has resulted in many more narwhal being killed or wounded than being retrieved.

A hunter uses a wire brush to clean algae and grime off a narwhal tusk in preparation for sale. Tusks of the narwhal whale were once sold as unicorn horns and were immensely valuable. Today narwhal ivory can still fetch large sums and the whales are legally hunted by some Inuit groups.

Hunters strip the skin and blubber from a female narwhal to make the delicacy 'muktuk'. Hunters shoot the whales for their ivory, skin and blubber, but much of the meat goes to waste. Tusks of the narwhal whale were once sold as unicorn horns and were immensely valuable. Today narwhal ivory can still fetch large sums and the whales are legally hunted by some Inuit groups. The hunting season is a time of much festivity.

A pod of male narwhals begin to dive. Transmitters show that these small whales dive to depths greater than 1800m, making them one of the deepest-diving animals on the planet. Narwhal tusks fetch large sums and the whales are legally hunted by some Inuit groups. The whales must be killed as they surface for air, while their lungs are full. Otherwise they will sink into the ocean.

Two narwhals surface to breathe. After long dives they are desperate for air. Narwhal tusks fetch large sums, and the whales are legally hunted by some Inuit groups. The whales must be killed as they surface for air, while their lungs are full, otherwise they will sink into the ocean. The replacement of traditional weapons by rifles has resulted in many more narwhal being killed or wounded than being retrieved.

Nature - 3rd prize