A person has been fined 50,000 Norwegian kroner (about RM22,000) after disturbing a sleeping polar bear in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago.
The incident happened early last month when the individual sounded a horn from a vessel travelling through a glacial bay in north-western Svalbard, about 1,000 kilometres from the North Pole.
Svalbard Governor Lars Fause said the noise startled the polar bear and caused it to wake up before moving away to another location.
Although the individual’s identity was not disclosed, authorities imposed the fine over the incident, which violated local regulations protecting polar bears from unnecessary disturbance.
Under Svalbard’s rules, people are prohibited from disturbing, attracting or pursuing polar bears without a reasonable cause. The restrictions are aimed at protecting both the animals and people living or travelling in the remote Arctic region.
Polar bears have been a protected species in Svalbard since 1972, reflecting the authorities’ long-standing efforts to safeguard the population and its fragile habitat.
The latest scientific estimate, recorded in 2015, placed the number of polar bears in the archipelago at around 250.
Authorities have previously taken action against visitors who get too close to protected wildlife. In 2024, a tourist was fined 11,500 kroner (about RM5,000) after approaching a walrus in Svalbard.
The incident serves as another reminder that visitors to the Arctic region are expected to observe strict wildlife protection rules and keep a safe distance from protected animals.
