TROYNOY ISLAND, RUSSIA — A team of Russian weather experts are under siege from polar bears at their post on a remote island in the Arctic.
As many as 10 adult polar bears and several cubs have encircled the scientists at their weather station on Troynoy Island, about 90 miles off the coast of Siberia, Russia’s TASS news agency reported.
The five researchers have abandoned some of their weather observation duties because it is just too dangerous to go outside.
Polar bears are a protected species under Russian law, so the scientists are not allowed to shoot the beasts. Instead, they have flare guns to scare the bears away, but it seems like that approach isn’t working.
In fact, the researchers have run out of pyrotechnic deterrents, and one of their dogs was even killed by the polar bears.
Russian officials are sending more dogs and flares in an effort to protect the personnel on the island.
Further respite for the scientists should come within the next two months, when winter truly sets in. A Russian official said the polar bears will leave the island when the nearshore waters freeze in October or November to search for food, according to TASS.
