Harrowing moment: A starving polar bear is found in a ditch, barely moving with multiple gunshot wounds in the remote Russian Arctic
- The emaciated bear was found lying almost motionless in pain and was found begging for help
- It is not clear whether it was shot by hunters or by defending individuals
- An investigation was launched and the bear was flown to Moscow
A starving Polar was found semi-paralyzed in a ditch with multiple gunshot wounds while rescuers fought desperately to save his life.
The emaciated and dehydrated female was found on Dickson Island in remote Arctic Siberia.
Disturbing footage shows the wounded animal – less than a third of its correct weight – lying in pain and almost immobile, begging people for help.
A starving Polar was found semi-paralyzed in a ditch with multiple gunshot wounds while rescuers fought desperately to save his life
The emaciated and dehydrated female was found on Dickson Island in remote Arctic Siberia
The animal was flown to Moscow and a criminal investigation was launched to determine how it was shot.
It’s unclear whether the bear was shot in the back because it was endangering people or by illegal hunters.
It is also not known how long the animal suffered the horrific wounds.
The first conclusion from a vet examining the creature is that the bear was hit with homemade buckshot, causing multiple wounds on its back and hind legs.
Disturbing footage shows the wounded animal being found at less than a third of its correct weight
It’s unclear whether the bear was shot in the back because it was endangering people or by illegal hunters
The animal was flown to Moscow and a criminal investigation was launched to determine how it was shot
Svetlana Radionova, head of the Russian Environment Agency, said: “Experts from the Moscow Zoo are fighting for the life of the rare animal.
“It’s hard to predict the outcome.”
The footage shows the bear before it was sedated and administered first aid, loaded for transport to Moscow and on its 1,700-mile journey.
Desperate and confused, the beast tried to break out of its cage.
It is not known how long the animal suffered the horrific wounds
A veterinarian examining the creature’s first conclusion is that the bear was hit with homemade buckshot
Footage shows the bear before it was sedated, first aid administered and loaded for transport
Desperate and confused, the beast tried to break out of its cage after suffering the horrific injuries
“It was the residents of Dikson who told us about the injured polar bear,” Radionova said. “The animal was found next to the settlement.”
She said hunting bears was illegal and if it was found to be the cause of the wounds, a prosecution would be instituted.
The three-year-old polar bear weighs around 60 kg, but is likely to be between 200 and 300 kg.
This indicates that the animal was starving and probably came to the village in search of food.
The bear is taken on a 1,700-mile flight to Moscow to try to save his life
Hunting bears is illegal and if found to be the cause of the wounds, a prosecution would be instituted
The three-year-old polar bear weighs around 60 kg, but is likely to be between 200 and 300 kg
This indicates that the animal was starving and probably came to the village in search of food
