Polar bear kills last villager

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | 10.16.03

[mhking]

A polar bear has killed the last villager on Russia's Vrangel island off the northern Chukotka peninsula, scientists at a local reserve said today.

The reserve's workers attempted to save Vasilina Alpaun, who was attacked on her own doorstep, but were too late.

The Ushakovskoye village had been abandoned since 1997, when its inhabitants were moved to the peninsula to make way for the bear reserve, but Alpaun, 25, returned to her old home shortly afterwards.

Bears roam free on the island and are rarely aggressive, the reserve's director Leonid Bove said, adding that the woman most likely provoked the animal.

[hedgetrimmer]

No, its time to defend your land. But they would have put her in prison if she killed the bear instead of the other way around.

[Kenny Bunk]

Well, pass the word. Having successfully kicked India's ass in the "Tiger Victim" competition, we are now tied, 1-all with the Russkis for the Bear Attack Prize.

Let's get out there, gang. Take a bag of White Castles out to the garbage dump tonight, and get provocative!

[GeronL]

Of course they would. They're wrong but they have too much power and she was alone. Too bad they don't have a free Republic.com in Russia.

AND don't tell me they do, cuz I won't listen.. nah nah nahnah

[Reaganesque]

Had she recently gotten back from a trip to Las Vegas? Did she have big hair?

[hedgetrimmer]

wha?

[Moonman62]

"...the woman most likely provoked the animal." What did she do, give it the middle finger?

Probably one too many pitches high and inside.

[GeronL]

large bands of roving and ferocious freedom loving FReepers... they don't seem to have them n sufficient quantites.

Russia needs to established a preserve for their version of Freepers.

[hedgetrimmer]

Vrangel islanders
G.A. Ushakov is the author of three books and numerous articles, based on the results of north expeditions: "Vrangel Island Robinsons", "Island of Snowstorms", "On Untrodden Land". Last book was to be given a Stalin purse in 1953.

Since 1924 he has been a full member of Russian Geographical society. In 1926-29 he was the first Russia's representative on management and settlement of the Arctic Ocean islands: Vrangel and Gerald islands and chief of an expedition, realized according to a plan offered by him, having in result that the islands were practically secured for our country. Created the first detailed Vrangel island coast map, collected large scientific material on the nature and economic possibilities of the islands, on the ethnography of eskimoes and Chukchi men brought by him from the Chukotski Penninsula, on conditions of navigation in the islands region. He was rewarded the Order of the Red Labor Banner.

[F.J. Mitchell]

"the woman most likely provoked the animal."

Right! Blame the victem.

[GeronL]

oooh, the Order of the red labor Banner...

They had so many 'prizes' with commie names it was ridiculous

[thegreatbeast]

Well now she knows. You don't poke the bear!

[SevenDaysInMay]

At about 5, I was in an oil field business in East Texas with my father. There was a mounted polar bear sow with a paw in a swatting position. Altho' mounted on a platform perhaps a foot high, I was as tall as the sow's knee. The owner told me that when he shot it, the bear looked as tall to him as it did me. He had fallen backwards when he saw her rush him. The sow was 8 feet tall. The old man told me that he still felt the luckiest man alive.

Churchill has some fine bear tours with "tundra" hotels on wheels, perfect for bear watching. One fool was nearly dragged through the bus window as the noses and teeth reach into the aluminum windows.

Friends who hunt bear in Alaska tell me to never hunt polar bear because they hunt you. FLIR (mil-spec forward looking infrared imaging equipment) from Cabelas would be nice for that kind of hunt. Why not spend $50K for up to a two week hunt on blinding ice.

Safety engineers on the North Slope must have their training spiced up when Polar bears take a village or two from time to time.

These bear are marvels and stupid. They do know that humans are higher on the food chain than they are.

[ChemistCat]

I don't have time to do a Google search to make sure, but I seem to remember that polar bears aren't actually bears at all, but related to minks and weasels.

Imagine a weasel THAT BIG!

And when we're all bundled up warmly, we look a LOT like seals!

That's PROVOCATIVE!

[hedgetrimmer]

It sounds like russia was after the territory so they conveniently found a way to force the human inhabitants off the island in the name of the "environment". By protecting the "environment" they placate those who might be offended at the removal of people from their land.

[ChemistCat]

I don't get wanting to live there anyway. Snow belongs on postcards. Ice belongs in drinks.

[GeronL]

Yes, I kinda doubt the 'reserve' story too

[ChemistCat]

My husband has corrected me; I am mistaken. I was repeating an error that David Palmer made in his excellent SF novel EMERGENCE; he corrected the error himself in a revised edition of the book.

Oh well, it makes for a good story. After all, they COULD be big minks. Really big nasty minks that eat villages.

Good night all.

[FreedomPoster]

Bear ping.

[af_vet_1981]

Bears roam free on the island and are rarely aggressive, the reserve's director Leonid Bove said, adding that the woman most likely provoked the animal

just like the woman in Colorado provoked Kobe.

[jrp]

Portable Bear Medicine