#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. In the six years since the establishment of a special working group by Rosprirodnadzor in the Arctic, over 20 encounters between polar bears and people have been prevented. The lives of four bears were saved through their relocation to zoos, according to a report from the agency to RIA Novosti.
In November 2019, Rosprirodnadzor created a working group to implement a rehabilitation program for orphaned polar bear cubs.
“In Russia, we are doing everything possible to ensure that polar bears continue to thrive in their Arctic homes. Rosprirodnadzor is dedicated to preventing conflicts between humans and the true masters of the Arctic. We are actively working with regional authorities, local governments, and companies operating in Arctic regions. Thanks to our coordinated efforts, we have successfully avoided more than 20 potentially tragic conflicts for both animals and humans”, said Svetlana Radionova, the head of the agency, as quoted by the press service.
Additionally, the agency reported that over the past six years, four polar bears have been rescued and transferred to zoos.
In 2019, a female bear named Marfa was found wandering the streets of Norilsk and was taken to the Royev Rouchey park in Krasnoyarsk.
In 2021, a bear named Hatanga was seen in a work settlement on Bolshevik island and was later moved to the Moscow zoo, from where she eventually went to Yekaterinburg.
That same year, a female bear named Tompa arrived at the Moscow zoo after being brought in from a settlement in Yakutia.
In 2022, a wounded bear was rescued in the village of Dixon in the Krasnoyarsk region. During the examination, it was found to have a gunshot wound to the left shoulder, hind limb paresis, severe dehydration, and paralysis of the hindquarters. The bear was transported to the Moscow zoo, where it received care until September 2023, when it sadly passed away. Its case helped develop new treatment and rehabilitation methods.
“Alongside Rosprirodnadzor, the Moscow zoo helped create a manual on preventing conflict situations between humans and polar bears. This guide compiles best practices and uses modern methods for presenting the material”, stated Svetlana Akulova, the Moscow zoo head, in the press release.
Moreover, she noted that zoo specialists conduct outreach seminars for indigenous communities and workers in the region, teaching them how to behave when encountering polar bears, including the use of deterrents.
The agency also highlighted that as part of the Bear Patrol project, lessons on the conservation of this endangered predator have been held in schools across Arctic regions for the past year.
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Text: Maria Ivanova, Photo: Denis Kozhevnikov
