Boater's stunt to awaken sleeping polar bear backfires after brazen horn blast

A boater in Norway was hit with a hefty fine after intentionally using a ship's horn to wake a sleeping polar bear.

The incident happened this month while a boat was traveling in Lomfjorden in the Svalbard archipelago, according to a statement from the governor of Svalbard.

Those aboard the vessel spotted a polar bear sleeping on land before one person sounded the ship's horn - causing the animal to awaken and move elsewhere, officials said.

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Other people aboard the vessel later reported the incident to the governor.

Authorities determined that the person had intentionally disturbed the polar bear and issued a fine of 50,000 Norwegian kroner, or roughly $5,300, for violating the Svalbard Environmental Act.

The fine was accepted and paid, according to the statement.

Polar bears in Svalbard are subject to strict protections aimed at preventing visitors from disturbing or getting too close to the animals.

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Norway strengthened those protections in January 2025, requiring people to remain at least 300 meters, or about 984 feet, away from polar bears, according to an update to Svalbard environmental regulations.

The required distance increases to 500 meters, or roughly 1,640 feet, from March 1 through June 30, when the animals are considered particularly vulnerable.

Anyone who encounters a polar bear at a closer distance is required to move away until the minimum distance is restored, according to the government.

Norwegian regulations also prohibit people from unnecessarily disturbing, attracting or pursuing polar bears.

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The rules are particularly relevant in Svalbard, where encounters with the Arctic animals can be a major draw for visitors but are tightly regulated to protect both wildlife and people.

In 2024, another visitor was fined after getting too close to a walrus in Svalbard, according to a statement from the governor.

The man walked onto a floating sheet of ice in Adventbukta and approached a walrus that was resting nearby. 

Members of the public contacted authorities, and several governor's employees also witnessed parts of the incident.

Authorities later fined the man 12,500 Norwegian kroner, or roughly $1,300, for violating a provision of the Svalbard Environmental Act requiring visitors to avoid unnecessarily disturbing wildlife.

Following the incident, the governor urged visitors to keep their distance from walruses, both to avoid disturbing the animals and to prevent potentially dangerous encounters.