A Russian village is under siege from at least 56 ravenous polar bears that have gathered on the outskirts of the remote outpost.
Remarkable images and footage show how Ryrkaypiy is now in virtual lockdown over the worrying predator invasion.
All public events have been cancelled and children were given extra protection as they travel to and from kindergarten and school.
Special bear patrols are trying to stop the ‘hungry’ bears entering residential areas.
So far the invasion is on the outskirts of the village – which has a population of 766 – in Russia’s easternmost Chuktoka region, where the beasts are feasting on seal carcasses at Cape Kozhevnkov, according to reports.
Environmentalists and residents said weak Arctic ice has left the bears unable to roam, with the Russian branch of the World Wildlife Fund saying climate change was to blame, as unusually warm temperatures prevented coastal ice from forming.
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