Iceland review - 2016, Page 77

ICELAND REVIEW 75
life is rather short. We have not estimat-
ed the cost of actually trying a capture
since there are so many variables like
how you would transfer the polar bear,
by plane or ship, how long you would
need to keep it captive in Iceland until
it’s transferred and so forth, but we know
the cost is high.
Can you describe to me a scenario or
a place where polar bears often come
to land in which a capture could the-
oretically be attempted?
It would need to take place in an area
where it’s possible to bring equipment
and tools to the site. So in reality it also
comes down to practicalities. The likeli-
hood that an attempt is made to trap a
bear is very small—first and foremost for
security reasons. The polar bear would
need to come to land at a spot where
it doesn’t pose a threat to humans and
livestock, the weather would have to be
good, no fog and good visibility. The
police would need to be sure that there
are no tourists in the area. And of course
all the necessary equipment I have dis-
cussed. The problem is that polar bears
are not very particular about where they
come to land and they come very seldom.
They aren’t coming in the same season
or to the same location, so it varies a lot.
We have looked at the policies of other
countries which have polar bears as a
native species. There, in many instances,
they try to relocate a polar bear if it gets
too close to human habitats. The meth-
od used is much simpler, you approach
them by helicopter, you sedate them, you
put them in a net and you fly them out,
you put the net down on the ice and you
release the net and the polar bear goes
out.
Why is that not something we can do
in Iceland?
Because the polar bear would simply
not survive the journey from Iceland to
Greenland. It would not survive the trip
because you can only use this method
over short distances.
Is Iceland then a unique example
in the way that we respond to polar
bear arrivals? Are these conditions
not something which other countries
are facing?
In 2008 this matter was carefully reviewed
and, according to my information, we
found no examples of other countries
that have to deal with the arrival of polar
bears far from their natural habitat. We
found no examples of polar bears being
transferred between countries.
Is there not considered to be any
ethical dilemma here because polar
bears are a vulnerable species?
Shouldn’t everything possible be
done to save every polar bear that
arrives here?
Well, we know that these polar bears
are coming from a stock which the
Greenlanders are hunting, so it’s not
a question of each and every animal.
We also know that the stock is quite
large. What is presenting fatal dangers
to polar bears is our way of living. We
are destroying their natural habitat and
therein lies our challenge as a society to
address climate change because that’s the
real threat to the species.
Iceland is therefore not under any
international obligation to do more
to try to capture polar bears?
No. A working group established by the
minister for the environment in 2008
to make a contingency plan for polar
bear arrivals in Iceland contacted the
IUCN’s [the International Union for
Conservation of Nature] specialist group
on polar bears and they didn’t have any
comments about the animals having been
put down. People are looking more at
the big picture of the natural habitat of
polar bears and the problems of climate
change and the effects of the melting of
the Arctic on polar bears.
What is your response to sugges-
tions, including by one Icelandic
animal rights lawyer, that the killing
of polar bears demonstrates a lack of
understanding of animal rights and
respect for animal lives?
The working group I mentioned reviewed
this issue in 2008 and gave its opin-
ion after having consulted with leading
experts in the country and abroad, and
sought advice from IUCN. I don’t know
what he’s referring to but the group
which I chair is very concerned about, and
respects, polar bears.
Despite your explanations, I know
that some people will still find it diffi-
cult to accept that polar bears are shot
when they arrive here. Are you con-
cerned about the impact on Iceland’s
image?
I’m perhaps not the best person to answer
that but when the decision is made to kill
a polar bear it’s never taken lightly and we
put a lot of emphasis on that these animals
are shown respect, that they’re shot as
humanely as possible. We’re looking at
the possibilities of whether we can capture
a polar bear and return it to its natural
habitat or transfer it to a zoo. I, however,
believe that this possibility is rather small.
We must not forget to show these animals
respect [for what they are]. They are not
cute little teddy bears. They are predators,
they have killed people and they will con-
tinue to do so if we come too close to their
natural habitat. At the same time, I think
it’s also important that we use the oppor-
tunity to discuss what is threatening the
habitat of polar bears, and that we look
at ourselves and see what we are doing to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We all
bear responsibility over our way of living
and we all can do something to try to live
within the boundaries of our planet. u
Kristín Linda Árnadóttir.