Two polar bears killed a worker at a remote military radar station in the Canadian Arctic last week, spurring an investigation into the circumstances of the attack.
“We are working closely with local authorities and regulatory agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident,” the company said, adding that one of the two bears has been put down.
Nasittuq has not released the name of the employee killed in the attack, citing privacy and respect for the victim’s family as the primary reasons.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and colleagues affected by this loss,” the company added. “Nasittuq Corporation is providing support to the family of the deceased during this difficult time. Additionally, we are offering counseling services to all employees affected by this.”
Nasittuq has a long history in Canada’s Arctic, dating back to the 1990s when its founding partners first won a Government of Canada contract to operate and maintain the North Warning System (NWS).
Brevoort Island is a small, uninhabited island located off the eastern coast of Baffin Island in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut.
The polar bear is the biggest of its species and is the world’s largest land carnivore with the ability to consume up to 100 pounds of food in one meal, the Nature Conservancy of Canada says. While some males can weigh upward of 1,700 pounds, the average size ranges from 600 to 1,200 pounds and eight to 10 feet in length.
As the largest bear in the world, the polar bear is widely considered the most dangerous of the species and one of the most aggressive apex predators on the planet.
Although attacks on humans are rare, they do happen.