Norwegian hunter mistakenly shoots dead 2 moose at the Polar Park Artic Wildlife Centre in Troms

Believe it or not, a hunter in Norway shot dead two moose at the Polar Park Arctic Wildlife Centre in Troms before realising that he had actually shot through the fence of the park. The hunter, who has not been named, was with a hunting group at the boundary of the park.

The park found out that it had two dead moose when the leader of the hunting pack told the staff what had happened on 7 October. The hunters were with trained dogs when one of the dogs went under the fence into the park. The hunter's bullet passed through one animal, killing it, and then lodged in the stomach of a second moose. The moose had to be put down.

Heinz Strathmann, the park's chief executive said: "I was surprised. I had my mouth open for a while. This has never happened before - and I don't think it will happen ever again It is one of a kind. We can't explain what happened, but probably the hunter must have been so eager that he didn't think.

"I think this is very sad, and it's not okay. We had five elks [moose], now we have only three," Strathmann told The Local. Although he hopes such an incident will not recur, meetings will be held before the next hunting season to highlight the park's boundaries.

Arne Nysted, who chairs the wildlife tribunal in Troms County said: "This is a regrettable mistake made in connection with lawful hunting on the outside of the park. It was a fatal error, but everyone understands that it was not done at all on purpose."

The park however is asking the hunters to pay for the costs involved in purchasing two new moose, the cost of the vet, autopsy, transportation and destruction of the carcasses. A moose costs about 30,000 Krone (£2,400).

The park is home to a wide range of wildlife, ranging from moose, reindeer, minks as well as bears, wolves, lynx and wolverines. It covers more than 570km sq and while it has enclosures, the animals are kept in their natural surroundings. The moose, also referred to as elk, are not an endangered species.

Norwegian police have declined to release the name of the hunter and will only confirm that he is a local man. He is currently being questioned. It is not known whether he will be prosecuted under Norway's Wildlife Act that regulates humane hunting.

Police Superintendent Katrine Grimnes said: "We don't know yet. The hunter is being interviewed as we speak." He faces a fine and possible jail time, Grimnes said.