(CNN) - A German cruise company says a polar bear was shot and killed after it attacked a guard on a cruise ship.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises said in a statement that the ship was docked at Spitsbergen, the largest island in Norway's Svalbard Archipelago.
The guard's injuries were not life-threatening, but he was flown to the hospital in a rescue helicopter. He is now in stable condition.
In the statement, the company apologized and called the incident "an act of self-defense."
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises said it is "very aware of its responsibility when traveling in environmentally-sensitive areas and respects all nature and wildlife."
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