Norway: Man mauled to death by polar bear

LONDON

A man was killed in an attack by a polar bear at a campsite on the tiny Norwegian island of Svalbard, according to local media reports.

The incident took place early Friday morning near Longyearbyen Airport, the Life in Norway website reported.

“A person at the campsite was injured after being attacked by a polar bear,” said Assistant Governor Sølvi Elvedahl. “We were also told that shots had been fired at the polar bear, but the location of the bear was unknown.”

The injured man was sent to hospital, but was confirmed dead by a doctor.

Local security forces later found the bear dead in the airport's parking lot.

Council leader Arild Olsen told local newspaper Svalbardposten that the incident had affected the whole town.

“We now work first and foremost to take care of those who were closest to the incident and assist as best we can,” he said.

The last such bear killing was reportedly in 2011.

Amid reports of increased sightings of the bears, polar bears are known to be under stress due to global warming.

“At this time of year, polar bears have extra challenges in obtaining food," Jon Aars from the Norwegian Polar Institute told state broadcaster NRK.

"It has been a long time since there has been ice in the main hunting area, so there is less access to seals. So, the polar bear spends more time on land to find alternative food.”