Snowmobilers get unbearably close to beast in outrageous stalking of animal just up from hibernation

It’s time time of year when bears are waking after their long hibernation. 

Hungry, they are searching for food. 

The video shows unidentified snowmobilers tailing the bear - and, say experts, baiting it.

They chase and get close and at one point the animal makes to attack but the snowmobile accelerates just in time. 

The footage from Paramushir island brought a rebuke from the Deputy Minister of Forestry and Hunting, Danila Dudarev.

'This bear is not dangerous,’ he said.

’It has woken and is looking for food. 

‘The beginning of spring is quite a stress for the animals and people who chase a bear like this are acting unethically. 

‘This is the outrageous, unconscious behaviour of adults who, in pursuit of beautiful footage, for the sake of entertainment, chase the wild beast. 

‘Getting in contact with the bear, they do everything to make the predator lose fear of people. 

‘In future, this animal can throw out aggression on someone who will not be able to leave on a snowmobile. 

‘In April and May, bears go out from their dens. 

‘They are not dangerous, if people do not tease or chase after them.’

The authorities found out the author of the video but since the group were unarmed no action can be taken. 

There were unsympathetic comments on social media. 

Alexander: ‘This shows when people are wilder than animals. Pity the bear didn’t get them.

Lev: ‘I wonder if they were fishing and the bear got too close, so they just scared him away. Bears are waking now, hungry, and very keen to munch on anything they can find.’ 

Vyacheslav: ‘Pity they were so lucky. I didn’t know idiots were permitted to drive snow mobiles.’

Maria: 'Dangerous games. I wonder if the bear gets back to wherever is their base and finds them again.’ 

Tikhon: ‘When there is no brain, there is no brain. Pity he didn’t snack on you, sorry to say this guys.’  

Dmitry: ‘When will people learn that one has to take care of nature.’