Tourist Fined £900 for Disturbing Walrus in Arctic Norway
A tourist visiting the Svalberg Archipeligo in Arctic Norway has been hit with a hefty fine of £900 after getting too close to a walrus. The incident occurred when the man walked out onto an ice floe and disturbed the walrus that was peacefully lying on the ice. Authorities have emphasized that it is illegal to cause unnecessary disturbance to wildlife in Svalberg, which is located between mainland Norway and the North Pole.
The man, who hails from Poland, was promptly reported to the authorities and subsequently taken to the governor’s office where he was issued a fine of 12,500 Norwegian Kroner. According to the BBC, he accepted the penalty and immediately paid it. In response to the incident, the governor’s office released a statement urging everyone to maintain a safe distance from walruses to avoid both disturbing the animals and endangering themselves.
The incident occurred in close proximity to Longyearbyen, at the bottom of the fjord, shortly after the tourist’s arrival in the area. Reports suggest that he was attempting to capture a photo of the walrus when the incident unfolded. Walruses have faced significant threats in the Svalberg Archipelago, with hunting nearly driving them to extinction. In 1952, they were granted protection under the law. However, the population of walruses in the area remains low, and they are still listed as a species at risk of extinction on the Norwegian National Red List.
