Man fined for disturbing polar bear in Svalbard

Authorities in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, Norway, have fined a man 50,000 Norwegian kroner (approximately 4,550 euros) for disturbing a polar bear. The incident occurred earlier this month while the individual was on a ship traveling through a fjord in the northeastern part of the archipelago, located 1,000 kilometers from the North Pole.

According to the local governor's office, passengers on the vessel spotted a sleeping polar bear on land. One individual then activated the ship's foghorn specifically to wake the animal, causing it to move to a different location. The offender has accepted the fine, which was issued for violating local regulations that prohibit the unnecessary disturbance, attraction, or pursuit of polar bears. Polar bears have been a protected species in Svalbard since 1972, with the last scientific survey in 2015 recording approximately 260 individuals in the area.