As a result of the natural crossing of white and brown bears, a new hybrid appeared. Cases of observation of such animals are noted on the Kuril island of Kunashir. About this "Izvestia" reported honored ecologist of the Russian Federation, academician of RAE Anatoly Kudaktin.
According to the expert, such animals were previously obtained artificially by insemination. The intersection of the areas of both species, the scientist noted in the late 1980s. “Breeding is normal and will continue. These species have different sexual behavior and nutrition spectrum, but there are no large intraspecific differences between them, Kudaktin explained.
At present, visits of polar bears to brown areas remain quite rare. This mainly occurs in Taimyr and other northern territories. However, due to climate warming, such cases will become more frequent. According to the forecast of the scientist, in 50 years hybrids may become mass.
On the island of Kunashir, on the territory of the reserve "Kuril", lives a large population of brown bears - about a hundred individuals. Among them there are silvery individuals with characteristics characteristic of polar bears. According to one version, polar bears could reach the island on ice and cross with local browns. According to the reserve, such individuals make up from 5% to 8% of all bears on the island. One of them was seen between houses in South Kurilsk.
