Norway fines boat crew $5,255 for waking sleeping polar bear

A boat sailing in the waters of Norway’s Svalbard region was fined more than $5,000 (over Rs1.3 million) for sounding its foghorn, which reportedly woke a sleeping polar bear.

Svalbard is located around 620 miles from the North Pole.

The incident took place in early August when the boat was sailing through the area. The fine was imposed after the bear was disturbed and allegedly forced to leave the area.

Svalbard Governor Lars Fause said people aboard the boat had spotted a polar bear sleeping on land.

According to Fause, one of the people on the boat used the foghorn, causing the bear to wake up and move to another location.

The Governor’s Office ordered the individual to pay a fine of $5,255 for the “unacceptable” incident. The person who sounded the horn, whose name was not disclosed, agreed to pay the fine.

Under local regulations, deliberately pursuing or disturbing a polar bear without a valid reason is considered an offence.