A rare polar bear was shot by police in a remote village in Iceland after it was spotted outside a cottage and considered a threat. The incident occurred in the northwest of Iceland, where the bear was killed on Thursday afternoon following consultation with the Environment Agency.
The decision to shoot the bear was made after the agency declined to have the animal relocated. Westfjords Police Chief explained that the bear was in close proximity to a summer house where an elderly woman was present. Fearing for her safety, the woman locked herself upstairs while the bear rummaged through garbage outside.
Polar bears are not native to Iceland but occasionally arrive on ice floes from Greenland. Recent sightings of icebergs off the north coast have been reported, leading to increased bear activity in the region.
While attacks by polar bears on humans are rare, the loss of sea ice due to global warming has driven more bears to land, increasing the likelihood of conflicts with humans. The bear shot on Thursday was the first sighting in Iceland since 2016, with only 600 recorded sightings in the country since the ninth century.
Despite being a protected species in Iceland, polar bears can be killed if they pose a threat to humans or livestock. A task force appointed by the environment minister in 2008 concluded that killing vagrant bears was the most appropriate response due to the threat they pose to people and animals.
The young bear, weighing between 150 and 200 kilograms, will be studied by scientists at the Icelandic Institute of Natural History. Samples will be taken to assess its health, including checking for parasites, infections, and evaluating its physical condition.
Following the incident, a Coast Guard helicopter surveyed the area for any additional bears but found none. The woman who reported the bear decided to extend her stay in the village after the incident.
