Helicopter deployed to scare aggressive polar bears from reindeer settlements on Yamal peninsula

Seven polar bears, including a wounded mother bear with two cubs, were scared away by rescuers after they got dangerously close to reindeer herders at several locations on the Yamal peninsula. 

The predators behaved aggressively and did not respond to threats, so rescuers had to fly a helicopter to frighten them away. 

One video shows a wounded polar bear mother limping away with two cubs by her side.

The most recent encounter was flagged by Russia’s chief environmental regulator Svetlana Radionova who wrote on her social media: 'It is worrying that polar bears come to people more often.

'This is related to climate change, ice retreating, and the fact that their diet is changing: it is easier for them to rummage garbage bins than to hunt.

'There is nothing good about this; if it continues this way we will end up sending all our polar bears to zoos.’

Seven polar bears, including a wounded mother bear with two cubs, were scared away by rescuers after they got dangerously close to reindeer herders at several locations on the Yamal peninsula

The cases of aggressively-behaving bears were registered by Cape Drovyanoy and near Malygina Strait at the northern tip of the Yamal peninsula. 

The bears besieging the reindeer herder settlements appeared to be very hungry; while the herders were waiting for help, the bears killed a reindeer and a dog, Radionova said. 

A veterinarian will be sent to see if people can help the limping mother bear; the next step will be to sedate and air lift all seven bears further north away from the settlements. 

'The situation with polar bears is getting more and more concerning, as they come very close to people’, Svetlana Radionova said.

A veterinarian will be sent to see if people can help the limping mother bear (seen below); the next step will be to sedate and air lift all seven bears further north away from the settlements