During an inspection of the Wrangel Island Nature Reserve, Ilya Petukhov, a senior ranger, found a bear cub with a tin stuck in its mouth. The animal could not eat. The ranger decided to start an urgent rescue operation.

Five people took part in the rescue of the bear cub. They had to immobilise both the mother and the cub. The hardest part was very accurately calculating the dosage of the tranquiliser – too much and an animal may simply not wake up. In addition, after the injection, the rescuers had to prevent the bears from going into the sea, so that they would not drown, and also from climbing up hills, so that they would not get injured.

Despite all the difficulties, the operation was successful, and the tin was removed from the bear’s mouth.

Most likely, the little bear tried to lick the remnants of condensed milk out of the tin, but something frightened it and the sharp edges of the tin dug into its tongue.

After the rescue, the scientists followed the family for some time to make sure that everything was all right.

(Photo © Vitaly Dvoryachenko)