Polar bears have unexpectedly moved into an abandoned village on an island in the Chukchi Sea, off Russia’s far eastern coast. The small town once housed workers from a polar research station that closed in 1992, leaving the buildings empty. Over time, the bears claimed the houses and turned them into shelters. A tourist on a cruise filmed the unusual sight with a drone, capturing how the animals explored their new surroundings without showing fear of the flying device. Instead, they seemed curious, treating it as something unfamiliar but not threatening. Despite their calm behavior in the video, polar bears remain extremely dangerous predators, so visiting the island is highly discouraged. This situation highlights an interesting contrast: while polar bears globally face shrinking habitats due to climate change and human activity, the bears here have found comfort and safety in deserted human homes. The video serves as a reminder of both the adaptability of wildlife and the fragile relationship between human expansion, climate change, and animal survival.
Vocabulary:
• abandoned (adj): left empty, no longer used.
• defunct (adj): no longer existing or working.
• shuttered (adj): closed permanently.
• drone (noun): a small flying machine controlled from a distance.
• intrusion (noun): entering somewhere where you are not wanted.
• demeanor (noun): the way someone or something looks and behaves.
• discouraged (adj): advised not to do something.
• habitat (noun): the natural home of an animal or plant.
• luxury (adj/noun): something expensive or comfortable, not necessary
Source: CBS News