Around fifty starving polar bears have been roaming for days through the small Russian village of Belushya Guba. Authorities may now have to intervene to ensure the safety of residents.
In recent days, fifty-two polar bears, driven by hunger, are reported to have ventured into the village of Belushya Guba, a human settlement in the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, in Russia, which extends for more than 82,000 square kilometres beyond the Arctic Circle and is situated between the Barents Sea to the west and the Kara Sea to the east. According to local sources, and also according to videos and images published on social networks, the bears are said to have raided the local rubbish dumps in search of food and even ventured inside residential buildings, as well as attacking village residents. Guard dogs and loud noises are reported to have been of no use.
According to local sources, it would not be unusual to spot a few packs of polar bears near the southern coasts of the area. But never before had they come so close to the local population, causing considerable problems.
2018 recorded yet another record in terms of rising average global temperatures. The most pronounced anomalies, however, were recorded at the North Pole itself, where temperatures were as much as 20°C above the seasonal average. This brings about what is now plain for all to see: the melting of the sea ice and the consequent disappearance of the polar bear's habitat.
A recent study has reportedly shown that polar bears have adapted to the water more rapidly than previously thought, proving to be excellent swimmers. This is said to be due to the scarcity of food and the long distances to be covered in order to reach a safe frozen landfall. For the first time, researchers took time to observe the aquatic life of the species, discovering that "the remarkable swimming and diving abilities of polar bears could provide them with tools to exploit previously unused aquatic environments. This is likely to become increasingly important for the survival of the species in an Arctic with little or no persistent sea ice".
It would appear, however, that the pack has no trouble at all searching for food among the rubbish and in the corners of the village. This would suggest that the species is becoming bolder and that, driven by hunger, it may dangerously approach human settlements as well. Much as has happened with other large wild mammals such as wolves and bears, which do not shy away from venturing close to populated areas.
Shooting or killing polar bears is prohibited by the Russian government; however, culling the most aggressive bears could become "the only and necessary measure to guarantee safety" in Belushya Guba if an alternative is not found quickly, the government statement said. There is nonetheless some good news: a first scientific assessment of the polar bears living in the Chukchi Sea region, an area spanning the United States and Russia, reveals that the population is in good health and does not appear to be suffering from the decline of Arctic sea ice.
