Polar Bear Shot Dead In Iceland After First Sighting In Eight Years

Bear's Death Sparks Outrage Among Conservationists

A polar bear that appeared in Iceland for the first time in eight years has been shot and killed by police. The incident has sparked outrage among conservationists, who say the bear should have been tranquilized and released back into the wild.

Experts Say Police Should Have Tranquilized Bear

Polar bears are a protected species in Iceland, and it is illegal to kill them without a special permit. The police have said they shot the bear because it was posing a danger to the public. However, experts say the bear was likely hungry and confused, and that it should have been tranquilized and released back into the wild.

“This was a completely unnecessary killing,” said Kristján Loftsson, a biologist with the Icelandic Society for the Protection of Animals.

“Polar bears are not a threat to humans unless they are provoked. This bear was probably just trying to find food,” Loftsson said.

Police Say They Feared For Public Safety

The police have said they shot the bear because they feared for the safety of the public.

“The bear was in a residential area, and we were concerned that it would attack someone,” said police spokesman Guðjón Arnar.

“We tried to tranquilize the bear, but it was too aggressive,” Arnar said.

Experts say the police should have tried harder to tranquilize the bear, and that they should have considered shooting it in the leg to immobilize it.

“There are other options available besides killing the bear,” said Loftsson.

Activists Call For More Training For Police

Activists are calling for more training for police officers in how to deal with wild animals. They say the police should have been better prepared to tranquilize the bear, and that they should have considered other options besides killing it.

“The police need to be better trained in how to deal with wild animals,” said Loftsson.

“This was a preventable death,” Loftsson said.