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Starving polar bear 'can hardly move', say residents of Norilsk

By The Siberian Times reporter

18 June 2019

Emaciated animal walked 1500km south and away from Arctic Ocean, searching for food.

The polar bear was filmed by teenagers who said they stood some 40 or 50 metres away, and it showed no sign of aggression. Picture: Zapolyarnaya Pravda

We reported yesterday on the polar bear that is believed to have crossed the Taymyr Peninsula and arrived in industrial city Norilsk.

Irina Yarinskaya, photographer of Zapolyarnaya Pravda newspaper, took these amazing pictures of the bear’s odyssey amid the downtown traffic.

‘He is seriously hunger-bitten, he is hardly able to blink and keep his eyes open, almost unable to walk,’ Irina said.

‘He was lying for a long time, having a rest, then he crossed the road and entered the industrial zone.

‘He went towards the gravel and sand factory first, then he crossed one more road and headed to a dump.’

Starving wild polar bear pictured in Norilsk city streets after walking 1,500 km inland in search of food

Starving wild polar bear pictured in Norilsk city streets after walking 1,500 km inland in search of food
This is the first polar bear that walked so far south and got to the city of Norilsk since 1977. Pictures: Zapolyarnaya Pravda, Timur Voronkov

Earlier, the same bear was spotted at Talnakh on the outskirts of Norilsk.

The animal was filmed by local residents.

The local Emergency Ministry and police have checked out the animal but due to laws over protecting the endangered species, a decision is required in Moscow on whether the bear can be sedated and afterwards returned to the Arctic coast - or sent to a zoo.

The polar bear was filmed by teenagers who said they stood some 40 or 50 metres away - and the animal showed no signs of aggresssion.

Anatoly Nikolaychyuk, head of Taymyr department of state hunting control, said: ‘We got as close as twenty metres, and the animal didnt react to the noise of the car.

‘We decided not to go out of the car - after all polar bears can jump up to 6 metres high. He looks quite healthy, of an average body built.

‘It is the second time in more than forty years when the polar bear is seen in the city. Last time in 1977 a hungry and aggressive female polar bear reached outskirts of Norilsk.

'It had to be shot because it posed danger to residents.'

Starving wild polar bear pictured in Norilsk city streets after walking 1,500 km inland in search of food

Starving wild polar bear pictured in Norilsk city streets after walking 1,500 km inland in search of food
This is the first polar bear that walked so far south and got to the city of Norilsk since 1977. Pictures: Zapolyarnaya Pravda, Slava Irina

Estimates vary, but the bear is believed by locals to have walked some 1,500 km to reach the city.

The animal must have had 'the wrong compass settings’ to be going to far south.

POLAR BEAR IN NORILSK

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It's too bad such a noble animal, a top member of the food chain in the rugged North has been relegated to worse than a crack head sifting around in the filth and foreign environment for tidbits that will probably poison him rather than sustain him until he dies the death of most neglected street denizens.

Erik Bosma, Mission, BC, Canada

20/05/2021 00:03

The bear went to the dump and was not lost at all he is smart and hungry. Sad the locals do not have a place for the bears to eat for extreme conditions like this. Bears still live longer in the wild though.

strak, CAL.

25/07/2020 01:20

It appears that the bear, although lost and hungry, is in a fair condition. Hopefully it is healthy enough to cope with being sedated? I hope the local authorities have enough resources to dart and relocate the bear? If not, I’m sure with so much global interest enough money could be raised quite quickly.
Best of luck to Boris the Lost Bear!

Sean, South Africa

23/06/2019 23:04

Sad story. Foolish people. A zoo would be better than this fiasco! It is obviously not normal bear behavior.

Patricia Gothard, United States

22/06/2019 07:17

This is such a heart breaking news. This is our fault from human greed. They did not do anything wrong. We have a responsibility to save them. Russia and Canada must start providing feeding points for them for a certain period in a year when they cannot find food. "They are wild animals. so we should not save them" Such excuse cannot work any more. We caused global warming. We must save them. People from all over the world will donate money to save them. Authorities in Russian and Canada must take action immediately.

Akemi Mochizuki, Japan

21/06/2019 20:55

Feed him

Susan Hossinger, United States

21/06/2019 06:21

My heart is bleeding for them. I hope this miraculous animals will get help soon, they are our common heritages!
I trust in the local scientists.

Debrődi Gábor, Magyarország

21/06/2019 03:41

What is happening to the animals on this planet is beyond belief what is good man either kills them off or slaughters them or lets them starve to death and film it; instead of capturing the bear and feeding back to health the idoits flash away; what happens to the animals on this planet is and does effect what happens to man tit for tat until man finds balance with God and the kingdom of animals he has given us man is screwed take a look to the heavens vengegance is mine sayeth the Lord; respect,regain,humanity for both people and animals then maybe we will be saved from our living hell earth quakes floods etc.

gracia, canada

20/06/2019 10:35

It just looks so sad, I just can't bear it.

Meghan, UK

20/06/2019 09:32

The U.S. Coast Guard transports arctic animals when they are required to be moved back to the arctic region. I am shocked that Russia just sits there... doing absolutely nothing. Perhaps Russia gov't will shoot this bear and put it out of it's misery.... shame on Russia.... again...

Thomas T., Minnesota, USA

20/06/2019 03:55

Polar Bears are always on the prowl for food. This one just seems lost. The government official said he looked healthy. Stop with all the "feed the starving bear" and "stop global warming" nonsense.

Dave, Canada

20/06/2019 02:51

For God sake someone do something , there as got to be a way to give it food , u carnt just stand there an watch it die , it looks so sad , I can see it during befor something is done , well I hope to God I'm wrong x

Susan Taylor , United Kingdom

20/06/2019 01:51

This poor creature isn't a freak show,it needs to be properly rehabilitated whatever it costs. That will require humane capture, and release with access to food and the right conditions. Climate change is critical and we need to act as a matter of grave urgency.

Judith Ward, United Kingdom

20/06/2019 01:50

Please show a little sympathy for this poor creature, and do something to save him, quickly!

Richard DeLuca, USA

19/06/2019 23:52

What the hell is wrong with people, everyone can stand around taking pictures but not one person can throw that poor animal some food, I know it could cause problems however I’m thinking that not feeding him is going to cost him his life ,amazing how we humans can cause this but will do nothing to stop it.

Leslie , USA

19/06/2019 23:50