Village besieged by polar bears as hundreds of terrorised walruses fall 38 metres to their deaths 

The polar bears were attracted by 5,000 walruses that appeared this year at a special protection zone in Chukotka.

Many of the frightened flippered marine mammals fell off cliffs at Kozhevnikova Cape as they sought to flee the invaders.

Several hundred fell to their deaths, and the polar bears then ate the carcasses. 

Head of WWF project Polar Bear Patrol, Viktor Nikiforov, said: 'This autumn the situation is alarming.

'Many crashed, falling from a height. 

'Their rookery had attracted polar bears.

'The walruses were obviously frightened by the predators, panicked and fell from the top to their deaths.'

'Up to 5,000 walruses were on the rookery, but there were a lot of dead animals - several hundred...

Now the walruses have migrated away but the village remains surrounded. 

'Now the walruses are gone, but about 20 polar bears remain practically next to the village,' he said.

'There is enough food for them (from the many fallen walruses), but several young bears approach to the houses out of curiosity.

'Three days ago, a bear squeezed in a window and tried to get inside.

'It's clear that people are frightened.'

Locals are patrolling and scaring the polar bears away from homes when they approach, he said. 

'We are trying to save the lives of both people and Red Book polar bears ...'