Around a village in the Russian Far East Chukotka Autonomous Region, around 50 polar bears have appeared since the end of last month, making the villagers nervous.



According to local media such as the state-run TAs news agency on the 13th, about 50 polar bears appeared in the neighborhood of'Lrukaipi', a small town with a population of 500 in Chukotka Autonomous Region last month.



Local speculation that polar bears appeared to eat the carcasses of whales near the village.



On the 30th of last month, a patrol unit made up of local residents told TAs that "polar bears are coming out to eat whale meat."



Patrols are strengthening their vigilance, predicting that polar bears will remain around the village for a long time based on the amount of whale carcasses.



Fortunately, the number of polar bears, from 50 recently, has dropped to 10, the patrols said.



"The situation is being managed" through his Instagram account, Governor Roman Kopin Chukotka said. "The patrols are patrolling the area every day."



Polar bears are an endangered species and are known to be inhabiting 20,000-25,000, of which 7,000 live in Russia.



Russia has banned polar bear hunting since 1957 to protect polar bears.



In particular, Lerekaipi is located close to Brangell Island, which is known to be inhabited by polar bears.



Polar bears are expanding their habitat to human habitats as climate warming reduces the number of frozen areas where they feed.



(Photo = local photographer'maximdeminov' Instagram capture, Yonhap News)