Barely two weeks after a polar bear was shot by police in northern Iceland, another sighting has just been confirmed in the same area. The bear is on Hraun Farm in the Skagafjordur region.
Polar bears drift to Iceland on stray ice, usually just once every decade or two. Standard procedure has been to shoot the bears to protect people and livestock.
The bear shooting two weeks ago sparked international debate, as the polar bear is now deemed an endangered species. Many believed the bear should have been tranquilised and sent home to Greenland; but the police defended their decision, saying the bears are very fast, conditions were foggy and many people had gathered in the area.
It is unprecedented for two polar bears to be seen in Iceland in the same region in such a short period of time. This time police have cordoned off the area and banned onlookers.
Further reports to follow on the bear’s fate.
the world is watching.
Tranquilize the bear and take it back to Greenland – do the right thing
Mark
bad reporting…thats all I got to say…I bet you eat green…hehe, anyway hope this goes well, but still it’s like giving a starved kid a fish instead of the rod.
An Icelandic Business man Bjorgulfur jr. has offered to pay for saving the bear. So no killing this time if possible.
This bear has also been shot.
Why, why? :-(
Why not tranquilize the bear and take it safe??
Do the right thing!
Cesário Simões, from the south of Brazil.
Save the bears ……”please don’t kill it”
There is someone willing to step up to the plate to save this bear. I hope you have not shot and killed another polar bear..
Thank You “Bjorgulfur jr.”
for giving a damn to keep one amazing bear alive. Some day these Polar Bears will be gone. it will be a great loss to man.
When I read this report in my local newspaper, it truly disturbed me. What kind of people live there. Do the people of Iceland not know that the Polar Bear is becoming endangered. Do you feel so separate from the rest of the world that you hold no responsibily. The struggle that bear lived thru to get to their shores. Please no more killing, tranquilize the bear, put him in your zoo or ask for financially assistance to return the bear to a safe country. When I first began reading the article I loved that the bear was able to swim to safety, and then to hear he was murdered. Shocking.
What kind of people live in Iceland? Wonderful people! I’ve been there and loved it. While I too am sad that the bear died, I also understand the choice that the police faced. They must consider that polar bears are very fast and aggressive–and will not hesitate to eat people. A kayaker I know was pursued in Canada and counts himself lucky to be alive.