June 18, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 13, 1429

REYKJAVIK (Iceland): A polar bear has been discovered on Iceland, which is hundreds of kilometres from the threatened species’ natural habitat, a local photographer said on Tuesday.

“The bear is in the north of Iceland near the town of Saudarkrokkur,” Rax Axelsson, a photographer with Iceland’s newspaper of reference, Morgunbladid, said.

“The bear is living off of eggs and birds” and does not appear to be hungry, he added.

The bear was discovered by 12-year-old Karen Heljateynsdottir not far from her farm as she was out walking her dog on Monday.

“She saw something white and thought it was a plastic bag, and then she realised it was a polar bear. She ran home and she said she has never run so fast in her life,” Axelsson said.

Polar bears are rare sightings on Iceland, since they have to swim hundreds of kilometres through icy waters to reach the island from their natural Arctic habitats.

The bear discovered on Monday, the second spotted on the island in the past two weeks, could lend credence to warnings from experts that climate change is creating a more perilous environment for the majestic Arctic animals.

A warming climate means the ice — where the bears usually hunt their favourite prey, the seals — is receding and literally melting under their paws, forcing them to swim ever greater distances.

Icelandic authorities shot and killed the polar bear discovered in the Nordic country two weeks ago, claiming they were not equipped to safely apprehend the animal.

They have however said they will attempt to capture the second bear.—AFP