First polar bear in 15 years swims to Iceland ... and is promptly shot dead

The first polar bear to swim to Iceland in 15 years has been shot dead by police, sparking an angry row about whether it should have been spared.

The animal – one of the species most endangered by climate change – was killed despite the availablility of knockout drugs that could have spared his life.

Animal welfare groups are enraged over the decision of Icelandic police to kill the beast, instead of loading guns with tranquiliser darts that were less than an hour away. The bear was spotted nonchalantly strolling along a road near the town of Skagafjördur yesterday morning around 9.30am by a farmer.

Experts say it had arrived on an ice floe and local laws stipulate they can be killed – despite the fact they are on the endangered species list – if one threatens humans or livestock.

Stefán Vagn Stefánsson, the chief police officer of a neighbouring town, took the decision to shoot it dead. He claimed no narcotics were available and a gun necessary to fire such drugs was in another part of Iceland 'so therefore it was necessary to kill it'.

But his version of events was hotly disputed by the chief veterinarian in the town of Blönduó. Egill Steingrímsson said he had the knockout drugs neccesary to immobilise the bear.

Should you really wish, you can see a video of the polar bear being shot here. Graphic warning.