A disturbing video has emerged from Russia’s remote Kamchatka Peninsula, capturing a car in reckless pursuit of a moose and a young bear. The footage, which has since gone viral on Russian social media, raises serious concerns about a growing trend of wildlife harassment for online entertainment in the country’s vast and ecologically sensitive Far East.
The incident reportedly occurred in the Milkovsky district, where the driver chased the two animals down a dirt road. According to initial reports, the driver’s apparent motive was to see which of the frightened animals was faster. The video shows the larger moose quickly outpacing the bear, which eventually veers off the road into the forest to escape the vehicle. The moose, after a longer period of pursuit, also sought refuge in the woods.
This event is not an isolated case but part of a troubling pattern of behavior in the region, where interactions with wildlife are increasingly turned into spectacles for an online audience. It echoes a similar incident from earlier this year, when a local tour guide was filmed chasing a different bear, purportedly to entertain tourists. Such acts of deliberate harassment highlight a dangerous disregard for the well-being of the region’s iconic fauna.
The official response to past incidents has been criticized as inadequate, potentially fostering a climate of impunity. Following the previous case involving the tour guide, the regional Ministry of Forestry and Hunting initiated an administrative investigation. However, there is little evidence to suggest that this inquiry resulted in significant consequences, raising critical questions about the effectiveness of state-level enforcement of environmental protection laws and the commitment to safeguarding Russia’s natural heritage from such blatant abuse.