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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.