For the first time in many years, a polar bear has set foot in Iceland. But the journey ended fatally for the animal.
The polar bear probably arrived on an ice floe from Greenland in northwestern Iceland – a distance of several hundred kilometres. More and more icebergs were seen off the coast, the broadcaster RÚV reported.
Polar bear shot by police
The police decided to shoot the animal. They had no choice, the statement said. The measure was taken in close consultation with the environmental authority.
It was said that returning the animal to Greenland was out of the question. Another reason is the fear that the polar bear could carry diseases from Iceland. The predator was relatively healthy, an expert said. The carcass, which weighs 150 to 200 kilograms, will now be examined in the capital Reykjavik.
Classified as a hazard
The last time a polar bear was seen in Iceland was in 2016. After two individuals arrived in Iceland in 2008, authorities decided to kill polar bears there, even though the species is endangered. The animals pose a danger to humans and livestock. They also most likely came from a stable population in East Greenland, and the costs of repatriation are clearly too high.
In any case, according to experts, polar bears would not be able to survive in Iceland in the long term. There is no sea ice and the food supply is limited. Females could not give birth or raise children on the volcanic island.
Source: Krone
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