It was actually a farmer who shot the bear, and he had no idea any one was looking for it.

“If you live in north of Iceland you learn that there are some chances you will spot a bear. And then you make a plan of action like hide and stuff”

lol

So you say if we would live in some other enviroment like close to woods we would kill all wolves in it just so we are safe? If we want to dive in some warm seas we kill all sharks first? No, we teach ourselves and our kids that they have to be carefull. If you live in north of Iceland you learn that there are some chances you will spot a bear. And then you make a plan of action like hide and stuff… My point with horse comment is that you can’t really eliminate all danger around you.
And the guys making those desicions maybe would be the same ones who decided that Aspirin is not healthy so Icelnd is to be probably the only country in the world where you can’t get aspirin in pharmacy. Or the same pack that allowed the banks to be stronger than the country itself?
I’m not from Iceland to and not that in my homecountry everything is perfect, I can name hundreds things that they are bad there. But criticizm is what is lacking here. Nobody critics anything. Gouverment decided to shoot a bear because this this and this. Oh, ok! Nobody explores other options… You understand my point?
Let’s kill all whales they are eating our fish and they been fishing more then the world can eat and whales are cathing fish for their purposes only. And so on and so on……
No, I am not a guy who doesen’t go out and doesen’t get in contact with nature. I don’t say bear on street is not potential danger but they are easiest ways then putting a bullet in his head.

Police took the decision to shoot the bear, as conditions need to be right to affect a rescue – chief among them the stipulation that people not be

My reading of that was that the police shot it. Instead, it appears that a farmer did. And that there were three, presumably sanctioned (the decision by the police mentioned in the article), hunters after it.
http://www.grapevine.is/News/ReadArticle/Farmer-Who-Shot-Polar-Bear-Surprised-Bear-Is-Skinned

But, then again, IR says the police did the deed. So who knows.
http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=16567&ew_0_a_id=357173

Cite?

Seriously, you might be correct. However the Icelanders here (and I am not one of them) have said that that is not the case. In fact quite the opposite. They may be wrong, but unless you can show otherwise I’ll take their word for it.

You don’t help your argument with things like that horse comment. Wherever you’re from, and whatever your experience, try to imagine living in a very isolated spot. Then imagine (a) a horse and (b) a polar bear outside.

Final point. You may feel all righteous, but don’t think that that’s a substitute for facts.

Come on man!!! Of course it’s easier and cheaper to shoot the animal and throw it in the ocean rather than bother with tranq-guns, nets, transport, feeding and all what involves keeping the bear alive. From that point you are definitely right. It is cheaper! Cost of one single bullet can’t really compare to all this what they would have to do in order to save a bears life. One wise man long long long long time ago said that treatment of animals is reflection of one country humanity. And don’t tell fairytails about some “smart” comitee that took a debate of 25seconds and a half what should they do if bear floats to Iceland. Probably over Big Mac portions with XL fries and liter of coke. Don’t insult us with this smoke, ok? And don’t tell me you could not keep polar bear in Iceland on highest temperature of 20-25C. It costs, of course. Esspecially more than a bullett, I’ll give you that.
Take any animal, cat for instance, and give her only water for a period of time wahtever you think it’s most likely that that bear was floating from God nows where to icelandic shore. And after that measure her aggresivity and observe her behaviour. You will get the same ammount of those in polar bear. So, even you don’t want to admit it but they could save that bears life. With some money spended of course.
I would really understand if bear chased someone or attacked or anything so it would be a diffence and life protecting act. But like this…. You really think that is ok? You know that horse can kill you if he kicks you with the legs? Why not killing all horses then? And leave the country with harmless sheep?

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=BUTCHYKID624#p/u/57/UCCWxL0jlPA

I admit that I do not know about the practicalities of keeping polar bears….but should it be in an icelandic zoo? After all icelanders have demonstrated to the world that they cannot run anything.
I regularly visit the birth town of my father, a large german town with more inhabitants than the entire country of Iceland. There are about 30 such towns in Germany and nearly all of them have zoos. In this town the zoo has one polar bear and I was told that they would like to find some company for him.