I couldn't even watch that video. What an awful story.

I can't watch that video either, how horrible.

I hope these cops get some jail time. How horrible... I can't image what went through these peoples mind that made them think killing a polar bear was the best course of action.

I watched it.

I wish they would have tranquilized the bear and moved it, but they didn't really expect one to show up and dealt with it.

The video wasn't graphic in my opinion. The bear was anchored with one shot and dead on the next one.

I was suprised that they walked as close they did to it before shooting it as it is a major predator and even more shocked to see, it was not even an adult. Looked like a teenager.

Sad.

I hope is wasn't a Svalbard bear....sorry....this is truely sad

I didn't watch it either. But I don't get it, the doc said he had stuff. What was the point to kill that wonderful animal?

A$$HOLES!

I saw photos of people just standing around the dead bear on a different site and it really just makes me sad... even little kids were standing around like it was no big deal that this creature was killed really for no reason. I mean I understand they couldn't sedate it for transfer quick enough, but to just out right shoot it to death after such a strenuous journey and considering it could be an endangered species in our semi-near future just seems really foolish on our parts... I'm sure there could have been a different way to handle this situation.

Here's the link to the pictures if anyone is interested... for those that couldn't watch the video I'd suggest not checking these out because it's just sad...

Jesus christ that was brutal.

So one bear shot by police causes an international uproar, but the hundreds shot by rich hunters looking for a trophy eyery year get to suffer in silence?

I can't help but wonder what the response would have been if instead of a Polar Bear in Iceland, it had been a Grizzly Bear in some area of America that wasn't it's natural territory.

I highly doubt it would incite this much emotional rage.

Icelandic laws state that if a polar bear comes to the shore and threatens humans or cattle, it is allowed to kill it.


I'm once again stunned at how seemingly sensible people turn into bleeding hearts with a "sad" story about wildlife when there are much much bigger issues facing our wildlife.

I hate how I often come off as a wildlife hater of some type when really I have the biggest heart for animals and the environment - I just dislike how easy it is for the media to play on people's emotions instead of sensibilities.

Amen to that. And I have seen alot of bears not die as quickly as that bear did.

I hate trophy hunting, but as Chinook said, it does bring money to impoverished trackers and the economy somewhat.

I hate that people wanna kill something just to kill something or for profit, I guess.

*edited to add* the vet had the narcotics but not the gun to dart the bear. He could have gotten it flown to him in an hour....that is why the police did what they did, they could not wait.

The world cannot have it both ways. Had the bear gotten close to people (and you see how close it was to the road if you watch the video), and mauled or killed someone, there would have been an uproar over that.

People who do not have to live with big decisions love to armchair quarterback others who DO have to make such snap decisions.

It's easy to say what you want to have done when you are not the one of whose shoulders it sits on of what to do.

This is one of the reasons I still Plime. I love hearing intelligent and wise comments from Plimates like you, TM.

I don't like armchair quarterbacks, either. I honestly might have done the same as the police if I were in their shoes. Twice I've been in a camp where they (local Inuit we hired as bear lookouts) had to shoot the polar bear that was too close and too aggressive. Polar bears are dangerous animals.


I find optimism in this whole story. Now, maybe the police and vets will always carry the proper equipment with them at all times so in the event another nanuk makes it to Iceland it won't have to end the same way. Maybe Iceland could host a small but safe polar bear sanctuary! If Iceland really wants a polar bear population back, though, I'm sure they could import a few, but they can be so dangerous....

I'm not 100% completely horribly opposed to trophy hunting (it does support many families), but I get annoyed when one sensationalist story draws outcry while the same thing occurs all over the planet without mention.