THE news that a polar bear attacked and killed a young man and caused horrific injuries to others was shocking.

My deepest sympathies go to all the families involved. But it is beyond my imagination that Michael "Spike" Reid is now being considered a hero, before an inquiry has been conducted into this incident.

He, with other leaders, were responsible for the safety of teenagers and took vulnerable young people into a dangerous environment. One young man has ended up dead. Who was responsible for setting the failed trip wire? Could the party not have observed the bears from the safety of their ship moored nearby? Then no lives would have been lost and an animal would be alive to go about its business, with no help from man.

Who put these young people within range of the most dangerous land animal on this planet?

Man has caused global meltdown of their environment, we have invaded their habitat, we have made it more difficult for these solitary animals to hunt their natural prey of seals. These animals can smell body heat from 20 miles away, that to them means a source of food for the bear and especially its young. It doesn't like humans invading its environment, so will do what comes naturally: hunt and kill that source. It wants nothing to do with mankind, just to be left alone to hunt, hibernate and give birth.

A polar bear can outrun a human at 30mph, so a 6in high tripwire with faulty explosives is not going to stop this animal. It took four bullets to kill this bear. Is it not common sense that if you have to be in a protected enclosure, and have to be taught gun skills to protect you while you are in a polar bear's territory, you should not be there in any circumstances?

This is not the first time polar bears have killed humans. I believe this animal got killed because human beings couldn't leave it alone to its own devices.

DAVID LUCKHAM

Pennycross