Very vulnerable view: how do people and polar bears hear in the Arctic?

The first national standard for behavioral encounters with polar bears can be developed in Russia in the coming year. This was made public as part of the Forum "Arctic Days in Moscow", which was held from 21 to 25 November. Meanwhile, given the growing interest in Arctic development, the question of how to ensure the peaceful coexistence of dangerous predators and of people living or working in the circumpolar territories threatened with extermination is become particularly relevant. Has Izvestia understood how often such meetings are held now and what rules are already laid down for this case?

Several dozen companies and departments can participate in the development of the standard. He is expected to visit Rosstandart over the next year. The TASS report, announced the chairman of the Technical Committee for Standardization No. 187 on research conducted in the polar regions. Rosstandard, director scientific information Center "Polar Initiative" Nikita Kuprikov.

The rules will primarily target employees of companies working in the North, but will also affect residents of villages in the Arctic Zone. It is intended to take as a basis the recommendations previously developed by the Wildlife Society and the Institute of Ecology and Evolution. A.N. Severtsova RAS.

"They [рекомендации. — Прим. ред. ] were made on the basis of knowledge of the characteristics of the animal's biology. This applies to all spheres of interaction: that it can not be fed, how to scare it properly or why it is impossible to hold predatory babies in the hands, "he said. said the agency, Anton Bersenev, executive director of the Society of Wildlife.

In addition, among the proposals – the construction of fences around the places of permanent residence of people. For example, schools or kindergartens.

Polar bears are considered the largest predator in the Arctic and one of the most dangerous in the world. Including for the person. At the same time, their numbers have steadily declined in recent decades. This is why today, according to the international clbadification, they belong to vulnerable species and are therefore protected.

Officially, you can use weapons when you only meet them in one case – if the bear has attacked. According to the testimonies of ecologists and residents of the northern regions, in reality, this happens very rarely. We talk about isolated cases for decades, but it is virtually impossible to determine afterwards whether it is a danger to humans.

Meanwhile, researchers, travelers, members of scientific experiments and volunteers working on the Arctic islands regularly report on their encounters. At the same time, in the sparsely populated northern lands, they are often encountered not only by polar explorers wintering in remote stations, but also by ordinary villagers. Predators, including foraging for food, are attracted by the remains of carcbades of seals and whales shot by local residents, as well as by the fact that their migration routes are located there.

One of the most striking examples is the village of Ryrkaypiy, located in the territory of the Chukotka Autonomous Region. The village, which has about 600 inhabitants, is located in front of Wrangel Island, a nature reserve, also called "birthplace of polar bears". Hundreds of predators live there. Every year, when the ice rises, they are sent from mainland territories along the migration route through the village of Ryrkaypy. And if the ice goes back later than usual or there is still a large amount of food left by hunters nearby, the number of bears in the area can reach several tens. Then news of the village, surrounded by polar bears, as in 2017 and 2018, began to appear in the federal media. Bears usually leave only in January and February.

It is believed that in the autonomous region of Chukotka today lives the largest polar bear population in the world. However, their range extends to almost all polar regions and, therefore, meetings with predators are a common problem in all Arctic regions.

For example, they are regularly welcomed by the inhabitants of Svalbard, the archipelago, which has about 2,600 inhabitants: scientists and researchers, as well as those who live in local villages permanently. Another part of the population comes for temporary research. The area of ​​the archipelago is slightly over 60, 000 square meters. km (which is almost 30 times the area of ​​Moscow), while only the Spitsbergen of Western Svalbard is inhabited, with an area of ​​almost 40 000 square meters. km, and the population is about 2 thousand people.

The entire archipelago has only eight settlements, three of which have been decommissioned, and the rest of the population does not exceed several hundred people. The only exception is the capital of Svalbard, the Norwegian city of Longyearbyen. More than 1.5 thousand people live there. But even in its surroundings, an encounter with a bear is very likely. In May 2018, media specializing in life in the Arctic regions reported that one of the predators had almost made it into the city. Then, the archipelago governor (who comes under the jurisdiction of Norway) personally went to meet him, accompanied by the local police chief. It was only possible to scare the predator, who listened to what was happening in human homes with interest rather than fear, only with the help of the included sirens and flashing lights.

In July 2018, media also published photos of a bear, "occupying" a small hotel on the territory of one of the islands of the archipelago. Upon entering the room through the garage, the beast made a rout, but could not get out and was surprised by the hotel staff "at the scene of the crime." Realizing that they would not be able to release it on their own, radio employees sought help from the Svalbard authorities. They sent a helicopter with specialists, but their support was ultimately not necessary – fearing the noise, the bear managed to escape through the window by injuring his paw. As the injury poses a threat to him, the vet who arrived at the scene could not determine because the bear was quickly directed to the water and disappeared. The hotel representatives said that this was the second such case since the beginning of the year, but the first predator managed to escape before the appearance of people: they asked their customers to be extremely careful.

All this news, it seems, refutes the reports of scientists on the reduction of the population. But in reality, such an activity of Arctic predators only confirms the sad predictions. According to most experts, bears are forced to spend more time on earth because of ice melting (this is particularly indicated on the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) website, WWF), which is their main habitat.

In addition, in the direction of human habitat, predators are often at the origin of hunger: because of Climate change and human activity are affected not only by themselves, but also by the mammals that previously formed the basis of their diet. For example, according to conservationists, polar bears, instead of seal meat, are increasingly forced to consume bird eggs or mice. They are also looking for reindeer and are still looking for towns and villages in search of food left in dumps.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that the animals breed very slowly – females can only have offspring from 4 to 8 years old, without bringing more than 1 to 3 cubs and no more than one. once every 2 to 3 years. Now their population is between 20 and 25,000 individuals; between 5,000 and 7,000 individuals fall on the territory of Russia, where hunting for the polar bear is totally prohibited (they are listed in the Russian Red Book). In most other countries where predators are found, the number of predators is strictly limited. Quotas are only set for representatives of small peoples and indigenous peoples in the North.

However animals again suffering from the acts of poachers – including in Russia. Thus, for example, last summer, volunteers who arrived to clean the island of Vilkitsky garbage left by the army found a polar bear cemetery.

According to the volunteers themselves and the forces of order, animals were reportedly killed for skins, estimated at more than a million rubles on the black market. About how many dead bears in question, so it was not specified.

In total, as in spring 2017, say RIA Novosti, scientists Viktor Nikiforov and Nikita Ovsyannikov, up to a thousand polar bears are slaughtered every year in the world, including about 200 in Russia. And this despite the fact that the legislation to fight poachers is tough enough. Since 2013, offenders have been sentenced to between five and seven years of imprisonment (a year ago, the Ministry of Natural Resources proposed to increase it to nine years), as well as heavy fines – approximately $ 1 million rubles for the skin. However hunt down hunter-offenders This is particularly difficult in the north of the country, and the responsibility for the resale of the skins was almost not anticipated.

It is almost impossible to catch a poacher in the Arctic. And the shipping, storage and trade of the skins of a polar bear were not actually punished. In some cases, a person has sent a polar bear skin by package. She was surprised at the receipt of a parcel in another city and was therefore fined 1,500 rubles.

Victor Nikiforov

In this case, residents can still deter self-defense. In the same year 2017, a man was reportedly interrogated at YNAO after shooting a bear on the island of Vilkitsky. He explained that he had injured an animal in self-defense: it was alleged that the bear had crashed against them while they were going fishing with a friend. It is much more difficult to fight such "unintentional" killings in self-defense. It is thought that a person has the right to shoot, in case the bear is attacked.

– In recent years, there have been only two such cases in Ryrkipia and the nearby town of Schmidt. Tatiana Minenko, head of the bear patrol, told DV.land's publication a year ago that local residents believed that bears should be killed, whether they enter the village or not. , whether they attack or not.

Most of the time, people do not want to try fate. In the end, a meeting with an Arctic predator can end sadly. Therefore, volunteers and scientists are all united by one goal – if possible, reduce their probability to a minimum.

In addition, recently, the number of these animals in the Russian Arctic is increasing, despite the adverse ecological situation. For example, at the end of July 2018, scientists reported a significant increase in the predator population in Chukotka – the local group of animals was then estimated at 3,000 individuals. In November, it was also reported that the experts had registered a record number of Alaskan-Chukchi the population (there are also Canadians) on Wrangel Island – there are scientists Russian-American the expedition had 589 people.

One of the indirect reasons for the increase in population is a gradual reduction in the population of northern Russia. But the again there are still employees working on a rotational basis in many northern companies. Unlike locals, they are often not prepared for a collision with a bear or perceive the arctic predator as an object to bait. As in 2015, for example, when employees of one of the commercial companies treated a bear fed a firecracker or simply threw it into an animal – and the video with the torture of 39, a predator has been posted on the Web.

In addition, the risk of encountering bears also concerns military personnel, including those serving in the Novaya Zemlya archipelago. Three years ago, a memo appeared on the Web, supposed to provide all newcomers. It is said that it is forbidden to shoot a bear, as well as to flee a predator, and that a bear may remain invisible for a long time to humans, so it is not advisable to travel alone on the territory .

If the state is now actively involved in the fight against poachers, preventing accidental clashes between white Arctic masters and its inhabitants (to whom effectively neither they nor the others are fighting) mainly activists and ecologists. The note itself, which is reproduced as a whole, was prepared by experts from the World Wide Fund for Nature. It should be noted that it is not recommended for people living in predator habitats to travel alone (and it is best to have a dog with them), and if the bear itself is safe. If it is returned to the colony or even entered it, you should not kill it, but try to keep it away by using noise or light. In addition, for preventive purposes, it is recommended that landfills located near human settlements be eliminated and that dead animal carcbades that attract polar bears should not be left behind.

In Ryrkaypii, where polar bears have appeared in the streets, one of the detachments of the patrol of the bear monitoring monitors the animals. Volunteers entering bypbad the streets and neighborhoods of the village, including after the discovery of bears in order to hunt them (it is not always possible to detect predators). They try to make sure that there are no remains of seal and walrus catches left by the hunters, so as not to introduce predators into temptation.

A bear can lie anywhere and remain invisible until in the end, it's a beast with unique disguise capabilities. Once, I almost approached a bear lying on the rocks and only the dog that accompanied me saved a meeting unexpectedly.

Tatyana Minenko

Chief of the Bear Patrol

Arctic tourism is another potential threat. Each year, only about 130,000 people travel to Svalbard in Norway, ten times more than the entire population of the archipelago. Many go for a very specific purpose – to see a polar bear. Luck, as the Financial Times reporter wrote in 2016, does not smile to everyone.

Although tourism is now one of the most promising sources of revenue for the northern territories, the Norwegian authorities have put strict rules in place to protect local predators: there are only 3,000 live bears on the island. archipelago, and it is strictly forbidden to approach it – not only for the safety of people. In the summer of 2018, one of the local guides fined 12,000 kronor (more than 90,000 rubles) simply because he was accompanying the group, scared the animal and decided to get closer to him. However, any impact on wildlife and its too active interaction are prohibited. However, there are tragic accidents.

At the end of the summer, a German cruise ship approached the coast of one of the islands of the archipelago. Before the pbadengers disembarked ashore, a member of the crew, in accordance with the instructions, undertook reconnaissance operations to ensure that the landing was safe and that it was safe. There was no predator nearby. Before that, the team had examined the shoreline from the plateau, but when the escort advanced on the island, it was attacked by a polar bear. He himself suffered head injuries and was taken to a local hospital, but members of the animal team were shot.

The archipelago authorities have opened an investigation, in response to the German company – the liner operator, Hapag Lloyd Cruises, said the beast had been killed as part of self-defense .

The story has provoked the discontent of conservationists – especially as more and more cruises are being sent to the Arctic and it is not always possible to notice the polar bear, a mask born , in time, especially in its natural habitats. It is therefore possible that such incidents will happen again. By October 2018, it had even been proposed to use helicopters for a preliminary inspection of the area, but until now, the idea has not found much support in Norway and in Svalbard.

D & # 39; First, There are no unified rules for the use of such equipment in the EU's protected arctic territories, secondly It is not known how the copters can affect the lives of other animals that inhabit these lands. Finally, there is no guarantee that users will not start using this technique for their own benefit.

– Также есть опасность того, что под предлогом разведки беспилотники могут использоваться для того, чтобы выискивать белых медведей или других диких животных и нарушать их покой – рассказала изданию The Barents Observer директор Ассоциации операторов арктических экспедиционных круизов (AECO), которая базируется в Лонгйире, Фригг Йоргенсен.

В конце ноября стало известно, что в Якутии впервые провели мониторинг местной популяции с использованием квадрокоптера, обнаружив с его помощью 25 особей. Эксперимент проводился с участием тех же специалистов Института проблем экологии и эволюции им. А. Н. Северцова Российской академии наук (ИПЭЭ РАН) и автономной некоммерческой организации "Общество сохранения и изучения дикой природы" чьи рекомендации, вероятнее всего, лягут в основу будущего нацстандарта. Наладить учет белых медведей с помощью сверхлегкой авиации (то есть коптеров) по всей территории Российской Арктики они пытаются уже несколько лет. Как следует из описания программы, ученые предполагают, что это позволит снизить вероятность возникновения "конфликтных ситуаций" человек – белый медведь ".