Rare polar bear attack kills Canadian worker
A pair of polar bears killed a worker in an attack at a remote Arctic radar station in Canada’s northern Nunavut territory. This has prompted an investigation into the rare attack.
The employee who has not been named was working for the Nasittuq Corporation, a logistics company responsible for radar defence sites on behalf of Canada’s government. Colleagues responded to the scene, killing one of the bears, the company revealed in a statement.
“We are working closely with local authorities and regulatory agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident,” it said. “The safety and well-being of our employees is our highest priority, and we are deeply committed to ensuring a safe working environment.”
The attack happened on Brevoort Island, south east of Baffin Island. It is one of dozens of North Warning System outposts in the north of Canada according to Canadian broadcaster CBS News. Its network spans some 3,100 miles or around 5,000km, and serves to detect any aircraft or missiles that might enter the region.
Despite the animal’s reputation, attacks from polar bears on humans are very rare but this is at least the second recorded deadly incident involving them since 2023. Last year, a woman and her 1-year-old son were killed by one in a village in Alaska.
Canada is home to around 17,000 polar bears, around two-thirds of the species’ global population, according to the government.
