Cruise line under fire for killing Arctic polar bear
A cruise line is taking flak after a polar bear was shot dead when it attacked a cruise ship guard in the Arctic.
It happened when passengers from the MS Bremen cruise ship came ashore.
Cruise line Hapag-Lloyd said one of two guards who went ashore was attacked by a polar bear and suffered head injuries.
The animal was then shot dead ‘in an act of self-defense’ according to cruise line spokesperson Negar Etminan.
The injured man was airlifted to hospital with a non-life threatening injury.
Etiman said all cruise ships sailing in the region are required to have guards aboard to look out for polar bears.
The incident has sparked outrage online.
The cruise line is taking heat for ‘invading polar bear territory with many online comments also being directed at passengers.
Comedian Ricky Gervais was among those slamming the cruise line.
"Let’s get too close to a polar bear in its natural environment and then kill it if it gets too close. Morons," he tweeted.
The line ‘completely regrets what happened.’
Arctic cruise tourism has grown sharply in recent years and is now in the peak tourist season.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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