A scandal related to the mistreatment of wild animals is breaking out in Kamchatka. The reason was a video posted on social media showing a car chasing a brown bear through a field. The incident occurred in Yelizovsky district, near Nachikinsky lake. As it turned out, the chase for the terrified predator was arranged by a local guide as entertainment for a group of tourists from China.
The authorities reacted immediately. The Ministry of Forestry and Hunting of the Kamchatka Territory initiated an investigation into the incident. Vsevolod Voropanov, head of the Federal State Control Department, called the incident “a blatant case of mockery of the symbol of the region.” He confirmed that administrative proceedings had been initiated, and representatives of the tour operator who organized the trip would be called in to give explanations. The Ministry also once again appealed to residents and guests of the peninsula to take care of wildlife and not to disturb animals.
Meanwhile, representatives of the local tourism community claim that such incidents are not isolated. According to one of the guides, who wished to remain anonymous, bear baiting on cars has become a regular practice to meet the demands of certain groups of tourists. He said he was personally acquainted with the Chinese tour operator who posted the scandalous video on Chinese social networks. In his opinion, the video was published as a cynical advertisement promising customers “maximum emotions and unforgettable impressions.”
An anonymous source also said that he himself witnessed similar chases in the area of Nachikinsky Lake, which is popular with Chinese tourists. He expressed concern about the actions of local guides who, in pursuit of earnings, are ready to commit such violations. “I have more questions not to the foreign tourists themselves, but to the guides, who themselves act as drivers and do everything to satisfy the interest of foreign visitors. I don’t know how Russians would react to this, but foreigners come precisely for these moments,” the representative of the tourism business explained the situation.
The journalists managed to contact the Chinese tour operator who posted the video. In the conversation, he stated that he was not involved in the creation of the video, but simply downloaded it from the Internet. The man condemned the actions of the guide in the video, stressing that such incidents harm the image of the region. “It’s definitely wrong to chase bears. We must protect the nature of Kamchatka and maintain a good ecological environment. This will attract many customers to travel to Kamchatka,” he said.