Which Country Features A Polar Bear On Its Coat Of Arms?

The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a large bear native to the Arctic and nearby areas. It is considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with an estimated population of 22,000 to 31,000 individuals. The polar bear is featured on the coat of arms of Greenland, which was designed by Greenlandic artist Jens Rosing and officially adopted in 1989. The polar bear on the coat of arms symbolises the fauna of Greenland, with the blue shield representing the surrounding Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Interestingly, the polar bear's left forepaw is raised, reflecting the traditional Inuit belief that polar bears are left-handed. Greenland's coat of arms is also featured on the royal arms of Denmark, with the bear's right forepaw raised instead.

The coat of arms of Greenland

The current iteration of the coat of arms was designed by Greenlandic artist Jens Rosing and officially adopted on 1 May 1989. The polar bear symbolises the fauna of Greenland and the blue colour represents the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans that wash up on the country's shores. The bear raises its left forepaw, which is unusual in European heraldic tradition, but aligns with the traditional Inuit belief that polar bears are left-handed.

The coat of arms used by the official Danish government representative in Greenland features the bear raising its right paw, with the shield crowned by a royal crown. This version does not conflict with the official Greenlandic coat of arms as the Danish specification does not stipulate which forepaw should be raised.

The coat of arms of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug

The coat of arms of Chukotka is not the only one to feature a polar bear. The coats of arms of the Territory of Greenland (Dano-Norwegian Realm), the County of Greenland (abolished in 1979), and Greenland itself all feature polar bears. The polar bear on the coat of arms of Greenland symbolises the fauna of Greenland and was designed by Greenlandic artist Jens Rosing. It was officially adopted on 1 May 1989. The blue shield on which the polar bear stands represents the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans that wash Greenland. The polar bear on the coat of arms of Greenland raises its left forepaw, which bucks the European heraldic tradition, instead following Inuit custom. This is because of the traditional Inuit belief that polar bears are left-handed.

The polar bear was first introduced to the coat of arms of Denmark in 1666 to represent Greenland. It has been represented in the arms of the Danish royal family since then. The polar bear was also included as a symbol of Greenland in the Danish coat of arms during the reign of King Frederick III of Denmark. The polar bear has been adopted by other coats of arms, including that of the official Danish government representative in Greenland, where the bear raises its right paw, and the shield is crowned with the royal crown.

The polar bear is not a widely used symbol in heraldry compared to other beasts, such as the lion or boar. However, it is used in the coats of arms of several other countries and regions. The Finnish region of Satakunta and the corresponding historical province feature a crowned sword-wielding bear on their coats of arms. The bear is also present on the coat of arms of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, which was inherited from the former Free State of Anhalt. The black bear is present on the coat of arms of Przemyśl, Poland, and the coat of arms of Samogitia, a cultural region of Lithuania, and the coat of arms of Šiauliai, the capital city of Lithuanian Šiauliai County, also feature a black bear.

The coat of arms of the Faroe Islands

The coat of arms first appeared on a medieval chair in Kirkjubøur, dating back to the 15th century. It was later used as a seal by the Løgrættumenn, members of the Old Faroese law court, the Løgting. When the Løgting was abolished in 1816, the coat of arms fell out of use and was not reinstated when the Løgting was reestablished in 1852.

During the British occupation of the Faroe Islands in World War II, the coat of arms was not used, even though the islands were effectively outside direct Danish rule. It was only in 1948, after the Home Rule Act came into force, that the coat of arms was brought back into use by the Landsstýri (Government) and the old title Løgmaður, now as the leader of the government.

On April 1, 2004, the Prime Minister's Office announced that a new version of the coat of arms would be used, based on the original design found on the chairs from Kirkjubøur. The colours were inspired by the Faroese flag, the Merkið, with golden yellow added. The new coat of arms depicts a ram on a blue shield, ready to defend, and can be used by Cabinet Ministries and official Faroese representatives, although some still use the old symbol.

The coat of arms of Wrangel Island

The polar bear on the coat of arms is depicted in a realistic manner, with its left paw raised. This is a unique feature of the Wrangel Island coat of arms, as traditionally in heraldry, the right paw of a bear is raised. The raised left paw is a nod to the traditional beliefs of the indigenous people of the island, who consider the polar bear to be a symbol of strength and endurance.

The coat of arms of Denmark

The Danish Royal Coat of Arms was established by royal decree on 5 July 1972. It is much simpler than previous versions, with a reduced number of quarterings. The shield is divided into quarters by the cross of the Dannebrog. The first and fourth quarters show the arms of Denmark—three crowned lions surrounded by nine hearts. The second quarter features the two lions of Southern Jutland, and the third is divided into three smaller sections. These are the three crowns of Sweden, representing the union of the three Nordic Kingdoms (the Kalmar Union); the ram, which is the symbol of the Faroe Islands; and the polar bear, representing Greenland.

The upright polar bear became Greenland's symbol in the 1660s. At the centre of the Dannebrog cross is a small escutcheon with the two bars of the Oldenborg royal dynasty. The shield is encircled by the collars of the Order of the Elephant and the Order of Dannebrog and supported by two savages, which were added to the coat of arms by Christian I. The savages stand in a pavilion topped by the Royal Crown.

The Royal Coat of Arms is reserved for the Monarch, the Royal House and the Royal Household. The National Coat of Arms, or the small coat of arms, is used by the rest of the Danish authorities.

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