Caught! The Norilsk polar bear needs urgent medical help, say experts

The polar bear that has been wandering for four days around Russia’s nickel capital Norilsk was sedated and caught today by specialists of the Royev Ruchei zoo. 

Russian Federal Nature watchdog RosPrirodNadzor gave permission to seize the endangered animal. 

The young female will be flown to Krasnoyarsk tomorrow, on 21 June, where she will spend several days in quarantine. 

The bear suffers from strong diarrhea after feeding herself on rotten food from local rubbish dumps, said Royev Ruchei experts. 

‘This is a dangerous state for the animal, she needs urgent medical treatment’ explained vet Georgy Belyanin who was involved in sedating the bear.  

‘This is definitely a female. It was obvious from the first moment we saw her that she was very stressed due to being in the city and surrounded by so many people’, he said. 

Until now the 'wanderlust' bear - which first appeared in Norilsk on Sunday - was assumed to have taken the wrong turn on the Arctic Ocean coast and headed inland. Pictures: Royev Ruchei

When the bear first appeared in the outskirts of Norilsk - first case of polar bears seen so far south since 1978! - many wondered how could an animal walk unnoticed for such a long distance.

Now one of the versions suggested by Kranosyarsk Royev Ruchei specialists might lead to a more worrying story.

The bear could have been picked up as a cub and raised INDOORS by poachers for future pelt trade, one version suggests. 

There is a number of reasons to doubt that the bear walked to Norilsk by herself, said Royev Ruchei experts. Instead, it could have been living in the city all this time to be sold later either alive, or as a pelt. 

‘Usually it is male, not female polar bears that set off for long-distance travels. 

‘The state of this bear’s pelt showed no sign of her walking for days on territory without water bodies, she is too clean for that. 

‘Last year a more severe punishment was introduced for polar bear poaching, which could be the reason why whoever kept the bear released it’, said Krasnoyarsk Royev Ruchei specialists. 

There is a number of reasons to doubt that the bear walked to Norilsk by herself, said Royev Ruchei experts. Instead, it could have been living in the city all this time to be sold later either alive, or as a pelt. Pictures: Royev Ruchei

The bear is expected to arrive at the zoo tomorrow. 

‘She is now isolated from unnecessary attention,” said one of the vets.

The move to take the young animal to the zoo was criticized by polar bears expert Viktor Nikiforov.

‘It is very strange how the polar bear is being rescued. Instead of delivering the young animal to the Kara Sea coast, they are taking it in the opposite direction to Krasnoyarsk to the zoo', he said. 

Until now the 'wanderlust' bear - which first appeared in Norilsk on Sunday - was assumed to have taken the wrong turn on the Arctic Ocean coast and headed inland. 

The animal became a local celebrity in Norilsk with an army of selfie-hunters converging on places the beast was sighted.

Parents were reprimanded  for taking their children too close to the predator.