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– We think we have received a reasonably good overview of the course of events, says Assistant Governor Sølvi Elvedahl.
It has been a week and a half since a Dutch citizen lost his life after being attacked by a polar bear. A person shot the polar bear in an attempt to save Johan Jacobus Kootte (38) who was sleeping in a tent at Longyearbyen camp.
The polar bear was later found dead in the airport parking lot.
– The person who shot the polar bear has defendant status, and will also be assessed under the provisions of the emergency law, says Elvedahl.
– The shooter protected the rest of us.
The person is accused of violating Article 30 of the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act, which states, among other things, that “No one may hunt, capture, injure or kill wildlife.”
But it can take a long time before a decision is made in polar bear cases. It would be two years before the prosecutor last week dropped another criminal case against two polar bear guards who shot a polar bear.
A Norwegian tourist who was at the camp where the polar bear attacked writes in a reader’s post on Svalbardposten that he is thankful to be alive.
– The shooter also protected the rest of us in the camp and scared away the polar bear so we could live. Of course, it is sad that a polar bear has to pay with his life. But precisely in this situation, it was crucial to try to save human lives, says the 55-year-old.
The Longyearbyen campsite is located near the Longyearbyen Airport.
Photo: N. Ylvisåker / NRK Line
Arbeidstilsynet connected
There is still an investigation before the prosecution decides whether to prosecute or close the case.
– We have not yet received a response to the autopsy of the deceased. There will also be an investigation against the company, that is, the campsite. If the safety measures are sufficient in relation to the Work Environment Act, says Elvedahl.
Assistant Governor Sølvi Elvedahl says they have received a good overview of the course of events.
Photo: Vilde Kristine Malmo / NRK
Arbeidstilsynet is also involved, as it was a camp employee who died.
The governor will not comment on the course of events at this time.
– I think I’ll have to wait until we finish the investigation, says Elvedahl.
