A dramatic encounter between a man and a polar bear unfolded in the Arctic town of Pyramiden on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard on Sunday (April 27) night. Captured on video by Rebecca Baack, a tourist staying at a nearby hotel, the footage shows the man firing a rifle to deter the bear. However, the bear charged toward him, prompting the man to drop his rifle and sprint to a nearby snowmobile, narrowly escaping as he sped away.
The polar bear eventually gave up the chase and sat in the snow. Baack, who was on a ski expedition, described feeling terrified for the man, who she believed worked for the hotel. The bear reportedly went under the hotel, which is built on stilts, and later left after eating snacks from one of the snowmobiles.
Svalbard is home to approximately 3,000 polar bears, outnumbering the human population. Polar bears are known to attack quickly and without warning. The tourism agency Visit Svalbard advises visitors to be accompanied by an armed local guide when venturing outside settlements.
The man’s quick thinking and the hotel staff’s efforts to keep about 100 tourists safe were praised. The incident highlights the unpredictable nature of wildlife encounters in the Arctic region.
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