Tourist fined €4,550 for waking polar bear with ship's horn in Arctic

A tourist in the remote Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard has been handed a hefty fine of 4,550 euros for disturbing a polar bear. The incident, which took place earlier this month, involved the use of a ship's foghorn to wake a sleeping polar bear.

According to a statement from the authorities of the Norwegian archipelago, the ship was sailing in a fjord in northeastern Svalbard, approximately 1,000 kilometers from the North Pole, when passengers spotted a polar bear sleeping on the ground. One individual on board then activated the vessel's foghorn, causing the bear to wake up and move away from the area.

The individual responsible for the action has accepted the fine of 50,000 Norwegian crowns (4,550 euros) imposed by the governor's services. Local regulations strictly prohibit disturbing, attracting, or pursuing polar bears without a valid reason. This rule has been in place since 1972, when polar bears were granted protected status in Svalbard.

Svalbard is home to a significant population of polar bears, with an estimated 260 individuals recorded in the archipelago as of a 2015 scientific survey. The strict regulations are in place to protect the vulnerable species and ensure the safety of both the animals and the visitors in this fragile Arctic environment.