Migrating polar bears cause emergency
MOSCOW: An ‘‘invasion’’ of polar bears has prompted officials to declare a state of emergency in Russia’s Arctic Novaya Zemlya archipelago.
The bears had begun gathering near human settlements in the archipelago in the Arkhangelsk region since December, TASS reported. At least 52 had been spotted near the settlement of Belushya Guba.
Between six and 10 bears were permanently on the settlement’s territory and there had been cases of bears attacking people and entering residential buildings and offices, the news agency said.
‘‘The people are scared. They are frightened to leave homes and their daily routines are broken,’’ the Arkhangelsk governor said.
Russia’s environmental watchdog has refused to issue licences to shoot the bears, which are an endangered species. Melting Arctic ice has increasingly caused them to migrate south in search of food on land. — DPA