Hungry bears threaten to eat scientists
Published 23 July, 2008, 07:03
Geologists exploring the north of Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula are refusing to work after dozens of hungry bears surrounded their camp. To make matters worse, an operation to rescue them was called off because of bad weather, leading the scientists to fear for their lives.
The bad conditions have prevented helicopters from taking snipers to the scene to shoot the animals. And to make matters worse, local hunters aren’t getting involved because they don’t have the right licences to shoot bears.
Kamchatka has more bears than anywhere else in the world, with a population of between 10,000 and 16,000. Kamchatka’s bears are also Russia’s biggest – where fully grown adults can be three metres long and weigh about 700 kilograms.
Geologists in Kamchatka are used to working alongside bears but a lack of salmon in the local rivers this year means the bears are looking for other food sources. Normally the bears feed on salmon, which they skillfully fish out of streams and rivers.
The researchers say the bears are really hungry as they would never approach a human settlement otherwise.
The geologists’ fears are not unfounded. Just a week ago bears killed two local residents who were guarding a fish depot. The storage facility is not far from the researchers’ camp.
An investigation is under way on how to resolve the crisis, but this is not helping the scientists with their immediate predicament.
In Siberia, it is not uncommon for a bear to terrorise a village for a prolonged period.
So, ask yourself this: what must it feel like to be trapped in a small area surrounded by several dozen wild bears that don’t have enough to eat and have already started fighting over food.
It doesn’t bear thinking about.
discuss it
