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A photograph shows a polar bear lying lifeless on a beach; mouth slightly agape, a ring of blood on its neck.

 the bear was shot and killed on Saturday.


It happened on the northernmost island of Svalbard archipelago, a region between mainland Norway and the North Pole known for polar bears and ice caps. In recent years, the area has become a popular destination for arctic tourism, especially during the summer months.




On Saturday, the MS Bremen cruise ship landed on the island and polar bear guards went ashore to survey the land. Then a polar bear unexpectedly attacked one of the guards, a spokesperson for the ship operator Hapag-Lloyd Cruises 

, and "in an act of self defense" another guard shot the polar bear.


A helicopter brought the injured guard to the nearby town of Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen island. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises spokesperson Negar Etminan said he suffered head injuries but they were non-life threatening.

"He was flown out, was responsive, and is currently undergoing medical treatment," Etminan said to The Associated Press.

According to the cruise company, all ships travelling in the northern region are required to employ polar bear guards to protect passengers on sightseeing tours.

for the incident and saying " Hapag-Lloyd Cruises very aware of its responsibility when travelling in environmentally-sensitive areas and respects all nature and wildlife."


Reaction to the death of this polar bear has been swift.

 over human intrusion of the polar bear's natural habitat. Some are saying it was a needless death of a vulnerable animal and that tourists 

 there in the first place.

Polar bear attacks in the arctic Svalbard archipelago are not uncommon. 

Environmental News

Gabriela Saldivia

Author

A polar bear is dead after an encounter that left an arctic cruise ship guard injured on the northernmost island of Svalbard archipelago, a region between mainland Norway and the North Pole.

Polar bear shot and killed 'in an act of self-defense,' cruise ship company says

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