Over 60 polar bears seen hunting for food right by Russian village
On December 6 members of the Polar Bear Patrol counted 61 bears near the shore.
Dozens of polar bears have invaded the outskirts of Ryrkaypiy, a village in northeastern Russia, in search of food.
Residents are taking extra precautions to protect themselves from the hungry animals and children are taking specially scheduled buses to school. All public gatherings, including New Year’s celebrations, have been cancelled.
Two people have been assigned to patrol the edges of the village to prevent the polar bears from entering and volunteers are assisting with this effort. The region’s branch of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has stated that over 60 polar bears have gathered at Cape Kozhevnikova, which is near the village Ryrkaypiy, looking for food.
Members of the Polar Bear Patrol counted 61 bears near the shore on December 6 and have been focusing their efforts on preventing conflict between people and polar bears. These animals pose a significant safety risk and conflict can result in property damage, injuries, and loss of life for both humans and bears.
The WWF says that it is typical for polar bears to visit this region, however, such a massive gathering is unusual and “highlights a larger trend across parts of the Arctic.”
“If there is enough ice, the bears would go further north to hunt the seals. Until the ice is not thick enough, they will stay ashore and can visit the village due to curiosity and hunger. Spontaneous waste deposits can attract the animals: bears will go for the smell of food waste, regardless of the availability of other food," says Mikhail Stishov, WWF Russia.
