Polar bears surround Russian scientists in the Arctic

Russian scientists have barricaded themselves in a hut, surrounded for nearly two weeks by polar bears on Troynoy Island in the Arctic.

The group of five researchers have been besieged by ten adult bears and four cubs since 31 August, according to research station head Vadim Plotnikov. The bears have severely disrupted the scientists’ work and have killed one scientist’s dog, while there are fears that they may break through to the food store and eat the provisions meant to keep the team going through the winter.

Relief supplies reached the station by helicopter on Tuesday, including flares to be used to deter the polar bears, as well as two dogs.

“Since Saturday the bears have practically been sleeping under the windows,” Vadim Plotnikov, the station commander, said in a statement to Russian news agency TASS.

“We have advised station personnel to be on high alert, not to leave the building unless absolutely necessary,” Vasily Shevchenko, a representative of the state monitoring network that owns the weather station, told reporters in the mainland city of Arkhangelsk, adding that cases as this are not particularly uncommon.

Source: BBC and The Telegraph