Icelandic Coast Guard conducts aerial search for polar bears in Westfjords after recent shooting

The Icelandic Coast Guard is conducting a reconnaissance flight over the Westfjords to ascertain whether there are any additional polar bears in the area. The local police chief indicated that the flight is purely a precautionary measure and that the conditions for the search are very favorable.

This operation comes in the wake of a polar bear being shot dead on Höfðaströnd last Thursday, prompting the Coast Guard helicopter to search the vicinity for any more bears. The police in the Westfjords requested another aerial survey today. The helicopter took off around 10 AM to Ísafjörður, where it picked up a police officer to accompany the flight.

“We wanted to eliminate any doubt, and we decided to do this immediately,” stated the police chief. The search focuses on Jökulfirðina and Hornstrandir areas to investigate the possibility of more bears being present. Officials noted that the bear that was shot was young, raising concerns about whether it was accompanied by older bears or a mother bear.

Currently, there are no signs that more bears are roaming the area. “We just want to be certain of this, which is why we requested this operation from the Coast Guard,” the police chief added.

Despite the bear being killed nearby a summer house, the police chief reported that there has been no panic among residents. “I think people here are taking it all in stride. This has happened before, so they are aware it’s a possibility, but I haven’t heard of anyone being particularly anxious about it,” he explained. Conditions for the search flight are optimal, with clear weather and calm winds.