The polar bear – also known as the King of the Arctic – is one of the world’s largest carnivores. The polar bear population in the Svalbard archipelago is around 3,000, which exceeds the human population.
Svalbard push me to do thing what I never considered to do. Shooting! Or maybe it is better to say, learning how to react to avoid the situation, in which I have to reach for the gun.
Polar bears often approach humans out of curiosity. However, it’s important to treat all polar bears as threatening. If a polar bear walks towards you, make yourself visible early and try to scare it away by shouting, clapping your hands or waiving your arms around. Load your firearm. Fire a shot with your signal pistol into the ground in front of the polar bear or a warning shot with a rifle if the polar bear is within 30 metres.
But how is this changing when is black darkness, you're panicked and winded, is bitter cold, wind and snow...how this might affect your ability to react and aim?
Few shots from Practical course: Solving polar bear encounters by Arctic Safety Centre.
