Polar bears an island in Russia are scaring people a small town. least 52 polar bears have been seen wandering the town Belushya Guba. The town is the island Novaya Zemlya, which is in the Arctic Ocean. The situation has become serious because the bears have chased people and entered homes and offices. Local officials have declared a "polar bear emergency". Local official Alexander Minayev said: "The people are scared. They are frightened to leave homes and their daily routines are broken. Parents are afraid to let their children go to school or kindergarten." A local said: "I have been [here] 1983, but there have never been so many polar bears the vicinity."
Officials say the polar bears are roaming towns looking food. They say that climate change is one reason this. More sea ice is melting, which means the bears are moving new areas to find food. They are attracted by the smell food in bins outside people's homes. Town officials have asked permission to kill the animals to reduce the danger to humans. However, Russia's environmental agency has refused this request. Polar bears are classed as a vulnerable species. The World Wildlife Fund says they are danger because the "ongoing and potential loss of their sea ice habitat resulting climate change". It is helping to keep the polar bears from the people Belushya Guba.
