An icy fjord, a polar bear asleep on land, and someone who decided to honk the boat’s horn just to see what would happen.
The animal was frightened and fled the area. Other passengers on board did not keep quiet: they reported the incident to the governor of Svalbard, Lars Fause, who confirmed the sanction on August 13, 2026. The fine: 50.000 Norwegian kroner, about 5.255 dollars, for violating a law that prohibits disturbing polar bears, which have been protected in that Arctic territory since 1972.
For some, the amount is excessive for something that lasted seconds. For others, it’s the fair price for messing with an endangered species in the middle of the Arctic. Which side are you on?