The Arctic Fox Center
Encyclopedia
The Arctic Fox Center is a research center with an enclosed exhibition and café in the municipality Súðavík
in the Westfjords
in Iceland
. It focuses on the Arctic Fox (Vulpus lagopus)
which is the only native terrestrial mammal in Iceland. The Center was founded in 2007 by locals who are interested in the arctic fox. It has a strong emphasis on ecotourism
. The center is a non-profit-partner of 1% for the planet and a member of The Wild North.
foxes, both blue and white foxes, as well as a beige fox. Basic informations about the distribution, genetics, diets, research, and breeding of the foxes are available in Icelandic
, English
, and German
. The second part of the exhibition is about the Icelandic tradition of fox hunting. Several original items like traps, shotguns and additional equipment are on display. A second room is hosting legendary hunters stories, interviews and pictures.
Most of the field work to observe the population and the effect of tourism is carried out in the nature reserve Hornstrandir
which is a popular hiking destination. Recently other areas in the Westfjords
became also subject of fieldwork. To observe the foxes several volunteers are engaged every year. The aim is to establish a sustainable wildlife tourism, since there is an increasing interest of tourists in the foxes, especially to take pictures. The first studies were already published and they show the necessity to carry on. In addition The Arctic Fox Center is also member of The Wild North and a non-profit-partner of 1% for the planet.
Súðavík
Súðavík is a village and municipality and a fishing village on the west coast of Álftarfjörður in Vestfirðir, Iceland .The population of Súðavík is around 190.-Overview:...
in the Westfjords
Westfjords
The Westfjords or West Fjords is the name for the large peninsula in northwestern Iceland. It is connected to the rest of Iceland by a 7 km wide isthmus between Gilsfjörður and Bitrufjörður. The Westfjords are very mountainous; the coastline is heavily indented by dozens of fjords surrounded by...
in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. It focuses on the Arctic Fox (Vulpus lagopus)
Arctic fox
The arctic fox , also known as the white fox, polar fox or snow fox, is a small fox native to Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and is common throughout the Arctic tundra biome. The Greek word alopex, means a fox and Vulpes is the Latin version...
which is the only native terrestrial mammal in Iceland. The Center was founded in 2007 by locals who are interested in the arctic fox. It has a strong emphasis on ecotourism
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
. The center is a non-profit-partner of 1% for the planet and a member of The Wild North.
The house
The house is located in the new part of Súðavík, on the land of the former farm Eyrardalur. It was built in the last decade of the 19th century and has been renovated recently by the authorities of Súðavík.Exhibition
The museum consists of two parts. The first part deals with the biology of the Arctic Fox. It contains several stuffedTaxidermy
Taxidermy is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all vertebrate species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians...
foxes, both blue and white foxes, as well as a beige fox. Basic informations about the distribution, genetics, diets, research, and breeding of the foxes are available in Icelandic
Icelandic language
Icelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
. The second part of the exhibition is about the Icelandic tradition of fox hunting. Several original items like traps, shotguns and additional equipment are on display. A second room is hosting legendary hunters stories, interviews and pictures.
Research and volunteering
The research focuses on three main fields. The interaction between foxes and tourists, the dissections on carcasses from foxhunters, and the population estimation in the Westfjords.Most of the field work to observe the population and the effect of tourism is carried out in the nature reserve Hornstrandir
Hornstrandir
Hornstrandir is Iceland's northernmost peninsula, situated in the Westfjords, to the north of the Jökulfirðir and to the northwest of Drangajökull....
which is a popular hiking destination. Recently other areas in the Westfjords
Westfjords
The Westfjords or West Fjords is the name for the large peninsula in northwestern Iceland. It is connected to the rest of Iceland by a 7 km wide isthmus between Gilsfjörður and Bitrufjörður. The Westfjords are very mountainous; the coastline is heavily indented by dozens of fjords surrounded by...
became also subject of fieldwork. To observe the foxes several volunteers are engaged every year. The aim is to establish a sustainable wildlife tourism, since there is an increasing interest of tourists in the foxes, especially to take pictures. The first studies were already published and they show the necessity to carry on. In addition The Arctic Fox Center is also member of The Wild North and a non-profit-partner of 1% for the planet.