Polar bear attacks cruise ship guard, shot dead on Arctic island

According to reports, he was assigned as a tourist guard for members of MS Bremen. The ship is operated by a German cruise line which said the bear was shot "in self-defence".

Three-fourths of the region is inundated with ice while polar bears outnumber human population. All ships in the area are obliged to employ bear guards to protect passengers on sightseeing tours.

Critics online, including British comedian Ricky Gervais, blamed the attack on human intrusion into polar bear territories.

Climate change indicators point out that the bears have undergone a behavourial change.

The Associated Press reports that 18 cruise ships are set to dock this week in Longyearbyen, Svalbard's largest settlement.