Starving polar bear found half-paralysed with gunshot wounds in Siberia
This is the disturbing moment an emaciated polar bear with several gunshot wounds was found in Russia.
Footage shows the half-paralysed, dehydrated animal lying motionless in a hole in the ground.
Rescuers were called to the scene by villagers of the isolated Dickson island, in Arctic Siberia.
In the video, they can be seen sedating the three-year-old female before giving her emergency first aid.
Upon inspection, she was heavily malnourished. Her weight was around 132lbs (60kg) when it should be between 440lbs (200kg) and 660lbs (300kg).
According to a vet, the animal had multiple wounds on her back and legs caused by homemade buckshot.
But it is so far unclear for how long she had suffered for before help was called.
The bear has since been flown to the capital where zoo experts are fighting to save her life.
Svetlana Radionova, head of Russia’s environmental watchdog, said: ‘Moscow Zoo experts are fighting for the rare animal’s life.
‘It is hard to predict the outcome.’
Meanwhile, a criminal investigation was launched to determine what happened to her.
It was suggested the starving bear had come to the village to search for food.
But it is unknown if she was then attacked by illegal hunters, or if scared people shot her in self-defence.
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