What a beautiful video, and overwhelmingly important message. Iceland is one of the most amazing countries I've been to, and the Icelandic people are genuinely strong about their moral compass. It causes me a huge surprise to know that hunting is still allowed. As you said, it's not compatible with modern Iceland and its values. I hope it changes in the near future! Thank you so much for this video!
I thank you both from the bottom of my heart for doing what you're doing for the wildlife of Iceland. I've led 15 tours since 2021 with well over 100 visitors and one question almost everyone asks is '"what is the chance of seeing Arctic Fox?" You can guess my answer although I've seen them in many unlikely places. In 2019 I drove 10 hours from Mývatn to Látrabjarg in the hope of seeing one and failed, My best sighting was at a tourist hotspot in the middle of the day. The man who runs the Puffin tours openly admits to shooting them and one hotelier told us he tries to run them over "because they kill lambs". Such ignorance. We're no better here in the UK with fox hunting and cub hunting still prevalent though illegal. I hope for a time when man will learn to live with nature and you should be the ambassador!
Beautiful images and video scenes. Capturing shots in such inclement weather is a challenge that you both have obviously mastered. It makes perfect sense to protect the arctic fox and use photography tours to support programs that help the fox and other species.
Wildlife is facing enormous pressure from so many sources - including habitat loss due to all kinds of human activity. As wildlife photographers, we have the opportunity to advocate for wildlife much like the two of you do. Thank you for that. It is desperately needed. Great video too.
Last late-summer i was for a photography trip on the isle of sky. Mostly there is no time to explore the surrounding for 'out of the box' images, so i went to the obvious places/shoots. On some locations i stoot there with a hundred others photographers!!! I was so disappointed!!! That is not my kind of enjoying nature. I sure do hope Island stays as it shoot be: a beauty nature island with great wildlife. In my country photographers are lure foxes wit flesh! just to get the fox closer in the frame!!!!! I hope this will not happen on Island to. Photographers (wel, of course not all of them) do anything for the shot. Therefor i appreciate your work so much. You are standing out for the right thing! And it's wrap up in a beautiful film. Thnks.e.s.m. Pleas keep up the good work.
I am fully amazed by your footage, here and on pt.1. I hope that the Arctic Fox gets protected in Iceland. Hunting is the reason it is seldom seen on mainland Scandinavia, and I think it is good that it is also not allowed to do guided tours on them here in Norway. All the best to you both :)
Gudmann and Gyda an outstanding video and commentary: some important and well considered messages for all of us who love to venture into the remote areas where we live. Beautiful photography as always. Thank you and keep up the good work.
In the UK we also have a massive problem with fox hunting, though technically its illegal however they use trail hunting as a smoke screen. I've been fortunate enough to see wild Arctic Foxes in Iceland and I hope to see more again. Iceland is a fantastic country but certainly issues such as fox and whale hunting, blood mareing with horses and other issues bring negativity for such a modern and environmentally beautiful country
You guys are wonderful! Awesome photography! Like your balanced approach and philosophy regarding the wonderful and unique experience these foxes provide to wildlife lovers!
As a retired wildlife biologist I am impressed with your photography. However I must say that it is often a balancing act and too many predators can definitely shift the ecological balance in an undesirable direction. Even the pre-contact indigenous peoples had their wolfers, hunters that were specialized in finding wolf dens and killing off the whole litter, in order to increase herbivore populations. I worked for more than two decades with indigenous peoples in northern BC Canada and we always had the problem of a large urban population, that tends to anthropomorphize wolves and other wildlife species, and that opposes any predator control measures. Don't get me wrong, I am not promoting year round open seasons for foxes, but many of the prey species would likely benefit from a limited, good controlled and managed fox population. Also, good wildlife management should not be directed by economic interests (Photography, Hunting) but rather strive for a healthy biodiversity with sustainable populations.
The governments only reason for hunting Arctic Foxes is protection of sheep. Not birdlife, not wildlife. The original reason for hunting foxes was nothing else. When indigenous peoples hunted wolfs they were getting rid of a serious competitor for food, thus struggling for survival. Citing the habits of the old times is not the way to go here. Philanthropy, animal protection and hunting ethics are a luxury of modern times. We should be careful when glorifying the ways of the old times. Killing of cubs at dens will not stand up to inspection today - no matter what justifications we dig up. It is simply a black spot on modern times hunting traditions. I am not saying arctic foxes should not be controlled in vulnerable locations, but the mindset of controlling nature whenever it suits us is a thing of the past. The Arctic Fox was here before us.
@@GudmannAndGyda I totally respect your point of view but still think that well managed peak predators benefit from a limited population reduction, resulting in a much healthier, less fluctuating population. Even though the habitat is pretty much in a natural condition up in your area and, you are right, the foxes were there before us, but as our wolves over here in Canada, they certainly benefit from even slight changes that people have made to the landscapes, thereby increasing their own populations. The losers of this situation are often those sensitive prey species that are not very good at following cultural impact. Of course without us humans everything would be fine and balance itself out. Believe me it gets really complicated in the culturally altered landscapes of Central Europe where I used to work in my earlier years. The true wilderness areas of Island and Canada are much more in a natural state and do not need much management at all. Let me close in saying "Good Wildlife Management" has to take all species and factors into consideration and should be free of political or zeitgeist issues! Love your approach to wildlife photography and commend you both on your excellent work. You are a great inspiration.
Your government believes "It is helping Nature". That is asinine. Nature doesn't need "help". We need help but Nature was doing just fine without us. In fact there have been some studies performed with the question: what would our natural world be like if there were no humans? Answer, unanimously: it would be better off.
Love this video and its message. Oh, and the ending was hilarious. 😂. Keep up the great work!
Thank you!! 😁
What a beautiful video, and overwhelmingly important message. Iceland is one of the most amazing countries I've been to, and the Icelandic people are genuinely strong about their moral compass. It causes me a huge surprise to know that hunting is still allowed. As you said, it's not compatible with modern Iceland and its values. I hope it changes in the near future! Thank you so much for this video!
I thank you both from the bottom of my heart for doing what you're doing for the wildlife of Iceland. I've led 15 tours since 2021 with well over 100 visitors and one question almost everyone asks is '"what is the chance of seeing Arctic Fox?" You can guess my answer although I've seen them in many unlikely places. In 2019 I drove 10 hours from Mývatn to Látrabjarg in the hope of seeing one and failed, My best sighting was at a tourist hotspot in the middle of the day.
The man who runs the Puffin tours openly admits to shooting them and one hotelier told us he tries to run them over "because they kill lambs". Such ignorance. We're no better here in the UK with fox hunting and cub hunting still prevalent though illegal. I hope for a time when man will learn to live with nature and you should be the ambassador!
Beautiful images and video scenes. Capturing shots in such inclement weather is a challenge that you both have obviously mastered. It makes perfect sense to protect the arctic fox and use photography tours to support programs that help the fox and other species.
Wildlife is facing enormous pressure from so many sources - including habitat loss due to all kinds of human activity. As wildlife photographers, we have the opportunity to advocate for wildlife much like the two of you do. Thank you for that. It is desperately needed. Great video too.
Last late-summer i was for a photography trip on the isle of sky. Mostly there is no time to explore the surrounding for 'out of the box' images, so i went to the obvious places/shoots. On some locations i stoot there with a hundred others photographers!!! I was so disappointed!!! That is not my kind of enjoying nature. I sure do hope Island stays as it shoot be: a beauty nature island with great wildlife. In my country photographers are lure foxes wit flesh! just to get the fox closer in the frame!!!!! I hope this will not happen on Island to. Photographers (wel, of course not all of them) do anything for the shot. Therefor i appreciate your work so much. You are standing out for the right thing! And it's wrap up in a beautiful film. Thnks.e.s.m. Pleas keep up the good work.
Fantastic storytelling and thank you for speaking so frank about this insane treatment the Arctic fox gets in our country
Thank you Ingólfur, this topic needs tackling.
I am fully amazed by your footage, here and on pt.1. I hope that the Arctic Fox gets protected in Iceland. Hunting is the reason it is seldom seen on mainland Scandinavia, and I think it is good that it is also not allowed to do guided tours on them here in Norway. All the best to you both :)
Great pictures and a thought-provoking message
Gudmann and Gyda an outstanding video and commentary: some important and well considered messages for all of us who love to venture into the remote areas where we live. Beautiful photography as always. Thank you and keep up the good work.
Thank you Bill. This matters to us and it is good to hear from good people.
Thought provoking. I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments. What a beautiful animal
In the UK we also have a massive problem with fox hunting, though technically its illegal however they use trail hunting as a smoke screen.
I've been fortunate enough to see wild Arctic Foxes in Iceland and I hope to see more again. Iceland is a fantastic country but certainly issues such as fox and whale hunting, blood mareing with horses and other issues bring negativity for such a modern and environmentally beautiful country
You guys are wonderful! Awesome photography! Like your balanced approach and philosophy regarding the wonderful and unique experience these foxes provide to wildlife lovers!
Beautiful film. A serious subject finished with a little humour.
I enjoy your videos very much 👏👏👏🏴
Thank you for another wonderful video.
Fantastic video… thank you 👍
As always, Superb!
Right on. Keep dreaming. You two are great conservationists with you channel.
Un gran vídeo con una especificación de la situación bien clara, se puede decir más alto pero no más claro. Un saludo desde Asturias-España pareja
Super! 👍👍👍
Wonderfull. Thanks for this video.
Well done, indeed.
Awesome trip ❤
It's nice watching you're videos, great work.
Thank you Jan.
Super video guys
👌
As a retired wildlife biologist I am impressed with your photography. However I must say that it is often a balancing act and too many predators can definitely shift the ecological balance in an undesirable direction. Even the pre-contact indigenous peoples had their wolfers, hunters that were specialized in finding wolf dens and killing off the whole litter, in order to increase herbivore populations. I worked for more than two decades with indigenous peoples in northern BC Canada and we always had the problem of a large urban population, that tends to anthropomorphize wolves and other wildlife species, and that opposes any predator control measures. Don't get me wrong, I am not promoting year round open seasons for foxes, but many of the prey species would likely benefit from a limited, good controlled and managed fox population. Also, good wildlife management should not be directed by economic interests (Photography, Hunting) but rather strive for a healthy biodiversity with sustainable populations.
The governments only reason for hunting Arctic Foxes is protection of sheep. Not birdlife, not wildlife. The original reason for hunting foxes was nothing else. When indigenous peoples hunted wolfs they were getting rid of a serious competitor for food, thus struggling for survival. Citing the habits of the old times is not the way to go here. Philanthropy, animal protection and hunting ethics are a luxury of modern times. We should be careful when glorifying the ways of the old times. Killing of cubs at dens will not stand up to inspection today - no matter what justifications we dig up. It is simply a black spot on modern times hunting traditions. I am not saying arctic foxes should not be controlled in vulnerable locations, but the mindset of controlling nature whenever it suits us is a thing of the past. The Arctic Fox was here before us.
@@GudmannAndGyda I totally respect your point of view but still think that well managed peak predators benefit from a limited population reduction, resulting in a much healthier, less fluctuating population. Even though the habitat is pretty much in a natural condition up in your area and, you are right, the foxes were there before us, but as our wolves over here in Canada, they certainly benefit from even slight changes that people have made to the landscapes, thereby increasing their own populations.
The losers of this situation are often those sensitive prey species that are not very good at following cultural impact.
Of course without us humans everything would be fine and balance itself out.
Believe me it gets really complicated in the culturally altered landscapes of Central Europe where I used to work in my earlier years.
The true wilderness areas of Island and Canada are much more in a natural state and do not need much management at all.
Let me close in saying "Good Wildlife Management" has to take all species and factors into consideration and should be free of political or zeitgeist issues!
Love your approach to wildlife photography and commend you both on your excellent work. You are a great inspiration.
Your government believes "It is helping Nature".
That is asinine. Nature doesn't need "help". We need help but Nature was doing just fine without us.
In fact there have been some studies performed with the question: what would our natural world be like if there were no humans? Answer, unanimously: it would be better off.
Idiots rule the world!
Hunting should be banned. Everywhere.