This morning a local farmer was the first one to spot the fully grown Polar Bear which was strolling peacefully in the country hills in north Iceland. The local Police was notified as the animal was allegedly moving towards the nearest town of Saudarkrokur. Two local hunters carrying a 30-06 and a 6.5-284 Norma where given the task to shoot the animal after the Minister of the Environment gave the go ahead to shoot it ! Because Polar Bears are a protected species in Iceland (except in self defence), the order had to come from the Ministry. The reason of his decision was that the Bear was too close to the next town and bad weather (foggy) making it difficult to keep eyes on the Bear ! The Polar Bear died quickly after having been shot twice, one shot with the 30-06 and one with the 6.5-284.

Here is a picture of the Bear....



And Video: http://www.mbl.is/mm/frettir/innlent/2008/06/03/einmana_og_villtur_hvitabjorn/

cool thanks

Very interesting post!

The English section of the website mentions they are rarely seen in Iceland and probably swam a long distance from Greenland. How often are they seen in Iceland ?

Now because of global warming there is much less ice drifting from Greenland to Iceland and therefore Polar Bears are seen once or twice every 10 years or so...I think the last Bear killed before yesterday was killed in 1997 and in 1993 before that. In the beginning of the 19 century they were quite common and seen almost every year. Since official recording began, some 600 Polar Bears have been recorded in Iceland. The unusual thing with the Bear shot yesterday is that it is JUNE ! Some folks are saying that it is probable that the Bear has been in Iceland the hole winter without anyone seeing him ! On the other hand Polar Bears can swim for tens, even hundreds of kilometres and maybe he just arrived and was given a warm welcome by the locals !!!

This seems to be pretty rough on the bear. In towns with regularly high bear numbers, such as Churchill, I believe there is a general acceptance that (within limits) bears have right of way in most things and lethal control of their behaviour is a last resort. Ingvar, I don't mean to be critical, but could you tell me why there seems to be a different attitude in Iceland? Have I got the wrong impression or is it because the authorities are less used to dealing with bears and are apt to be over cautious? As the sea ice disappears over the next few decades, surely you can expect to have more bears on Iceland over the summer, perhaps permanently?

There is a big debate going on right now in the Icelandic press and on the streets about this incident the other day....for years the only thing that we have done is shoot the Bears that reach our coasts and so far no effort has been made to keep them alive and ship them back to Greenland. Now the public opinion is that the local veterinarians should “all†be equipped with tranquilliser guns and drugs ecc. to deal with these “situations†and right now they are not. Today it’s much "easier" to call the next local hunter that brig his rifle and...... you know the rest !

Certainly don't want to condemn any one involved. I have no idea how close this bear was to the local population or what threat it posed.

However, the guys doing the shooting seemed very eager to get the job done Maybe it was a necessity.

It is poor PR at best.

Nice bear,

I think that Iceland should have the ability to manage their bears how they choose.

Nice to see that hunting is the choice.

If you had 1800 pound white monsters in England I doubt you would want them handled any other way.

I lived in Barrow, Alaska and the same thing happened there. A polar bear in town means a dead bear, some native hunter will go and take care of it.

Wow, beautiful animal and also hunted with a 30-06, I liked the video, although I am Spanish and I did not understand anything of what the commentator said.

Oscar.

quote:

I think that Iceland should have the ability to manage their bears how they choose

Even if it means eliminating them completely? Would you support the Zimbabweans, Tanzanians etc. doing the same with their lions, elephants, buffalo ? And if the whole species become extinct? Too bad I guess!
Peter.

What is there in Iceland for the bears to eat? Unless there are Musk Ox I'm struggling to think of what prey there might be inland although ther might be seals on the coast.

Polar bears don't live in Iceland Peter. They aren't native there.

Just like they aren't native to Florida. Right now there are about 20 times as many polar bears in Florida as their are in Iceland.

You keep yours in zoos, they don't welcome the introduction of them to Iceland.

Polar Bears don't eat muskox, unless one is very sick, or very hurt a polar bear would never catch it.

Polar bears eat beluga and norwal calves, walrus, and seals.

quote:

Originally posted by ovny:
Wow, beautiful animal and also hunted with a 30-06, I liked the video, although I am Spanish and I did not understand anything of what the commentator said.

Oscar.

Don,t worry.neither did I ! and that would go for most of us I think.