Gorno-Altaisk: Local authorities of two territories of the Altai region have made an unprecedented decision, imposing curfew on their territories because of mass onslaught of starving bears.

The population have been ordered not to leave their homes after dark and stay indoors until day breaks.

The settlements in question based in the Turachakovsky district are situated on the territory of the Altai nature reserve - one of the largest in Russia.

For some 20 days the local population has been exposed to risk as hungry animals are hanging around as they look for food near houses.

"The bears autumn invasion was a result of poor taiga crops this year that lack nuts and berries known as bears basic and most liked kinds of food," Deputy chief of the administration of the nature reserve Svetlana Chukhontseva said.

Dozens of starving bears have been looking for food in orchards and households and even kill cattle, Chukhontseva said.

Recently, the situation has deteriorated as bears have started ignoring even gunfire. In the daytime the population have been allowed to go beyond the territory of the settlements accompanied by armed guards only.

The Russian Ministry of Natural Resources has not yet authorized shooting animals that trespass onto the territory of settlements belonging to the Altai nature reserve.

Director of the nature reserve Vyacheslav Kalmykov will take part in a conference of heads of administrations of nature reserves scheduled in Moscow for tomorrow and will raise the problem of licensing bear shooting.
Source : PTI