In a coordinated rescue operation, specialists from the Krasnogorsk forestry department joined forces with teams from the island’s veterinary office, the local zoo, and the animal disease control station No. 10. Their mission was to locate, contain, and safely evacuate orphaned bear cubs along a highway that runs through the heart of Sakhalin. The incident was reported through a regional emergency channel, highlighting the collective effort of multiple agencies responding to a wildlife welfare situation in progress.
Residents had alerted authorities about a week earlier, describing unaccompanied bear cubs approaching motorists in search of food. The sighting prompted rapid deployment of wildlife professionals to monitor the cubs, assess their condition, and determine the safest path for capture without exposing the animals or the public to unnecessary risk. The OBV and the local forestry service coordinated with veterinary teams to ensure humane handling and immediate care if needed, while keeping traffic disruption to a minimum during the operation.
Department spokeswoman Tatyana Bekhteneva confirmed that the first bear cub was successfully captured the previous week, with the second cub taken into custody on Monday. The operation followed strict safety protocols designed to minimize stress for the cubs and to prevent injuries to the capture team. After assessment, both cubs were transported to a suitable habitat where their natural behaviors could be observed and supported, ensuring their readiness to thrive in the wild. The relocation took place in a difficult-to-access stretch of road in the Tomarinsky district, an area relatively distant from major traffic routes. In their new environment, the cubs have access to natural foraging opportunities, and officials noted the recent release of a large salmon stock in the nearby waters, which could influence food availability in the ecosystem.
On October 24, residents of Krasnoyarsk reported a bear with a cub in the urban residential area, triggering a police response after two independent witnesses from different parts of the city observed the mother bear with her offspring. The sightings occurred along Kalinin Street, near the Tarnaya Baza stop, and close to house number 10 on Krupskaya Street. In such urban encounters, authorities emphasize careful management to protect both wildlife and people, while exploring options to guide the animals back toward suitable natural habitats whenever feasible. This event adds to a pattern of occasional bear activity in peri-urban zones, underscoring the importance of ongoing wildlife monitoring and public awareness campaigns to reduce potential conflicts and promote coexistence in shared landscapes.
Earlier reports indicated a separate incident on the Kuril Islands involving a bear that approached a tourist campsite and took a bowl of soup from campers. While this anecdote illustrates occasional bold behavior by foraging bears in the region, wildlife officials stress the value of securing food sources and maintaining safe distances to avoid habituation and risky interactions with humans.