March 31, 2015 Read time - 1 minute No, this is not some spurious nonsense about a Polar bear walking into frozen foods specialist! Rather, it is news that a Polar bear has been spotted on land on the northern shore of Iceland. Polar Bear Spotted in Iceland Local store owner Gunnar Asmundur was about thirty kilometres from Husavik - a medium-sized Icelandic community - spotted the bear getting out of the sea and walk along a desolate and dark stretch of beach. “It was undoubtedly a Polar bear,” he said, “it looked thin, probably a female, and clearly disorientated.” He added: “I alerted the local authorities who are now monitoring the situation closely.” Here at Exodus, we are staying in regular contact with our local operator as we await further updates on this dramatic story. Polar bear on ice Our photographer Paul Goldstein, who has spent many years leading polar expeditions around Spitsbergen, said: “The police, alongside leading experts from The Scott Polar Institute, are carefully tracking the bear’s movements to ensure everybody’s safety. That’s all we know at this stage.” He added: “Each year we take hundreds of people to see polar bears in the Arctic. If a stable population becomes habituated in Iceland, we could offer small ship expeditions much closer to home. The Polar bear’s greatest long-term threat is melting sea ice. However, with plentiful fish stocks and resident seal populations on this more southerly landmass, it is feasible bears could adapt to dramatically changing environmental conditions by relocating.” Until an expedition is available in Iceland, view our trips to the Arctic to see the Polar bear.
Spitsbergen Highlights: Expedition in Brief Pack in all the excitement of an epic long Arctic cruise into only seven days! Polar Expeditions Suitable for: Age 18+ Activity level: Leisurely 7 Days from £4,400 £3,520 Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details
Introduction to Spitsbergen: Fjords, Glaciers and Wildlife of Svalbard Explore the Svalbard Archipelago and its stunning landscape and wildlife Polar Expeditions Suitable for: Age 18+ Activity level: Leisurely 10 Days from £5,100 Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details
Spitsbergen In Depth: Big Island, Big Adventure An extended expedition encompasing Spitsbergen and smaller outlying islands Polar Expeditions Suitable for: Age 18+ Activity level: Leisurely 14 Days from £7,900 Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details
Spitsbergen Explorer: Wildlife Capital of the Arctic Explore the remarkable Svalbard Archipelago in Norway in 24 hour daylight Polar Expeditions Suitable for: Age 18+ Activity level: Leisurely 12 Days from £7,600 £6,080 Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details