Vilnius Bear – this is how Lithuanians describe the bear that recently wandered around Vilnius. The bear has appeared in Tarandė, Avižieniei, on Ukmergė street and finally, in Riešė, it causes not only curiosity, but also anxiety. Although experts reassure us that the bear is not an aggressive predator, an exhausted and stressed animal can be unpredictable. We asked Vilnius residents how they felt when a bear ran around the city.
29 percent of those surveyed (269 votes) say they do not feel safe in the city and that services should work better. Another 24 percent (127 votes) say they feel safe so far, but are gradually becoming uneasy.
However, 54 percent of respondents (501 votes) say that the bulls are safe and urge others to leave the beast alone. 4 percent of residents (34 votes) say that this issue is not relevant to them.
MadeinVilnius.lt 931 residents participated in the survey. The survey was conducted from Monday, June 16, to Friday, June 20.
The bear is currently safe outside the city limits, with authorities passively monitoring its movements.
If you notice or meet a brown bear in the wild, it is first of all important to maintain a safe distance, do not try to approach it and do not make sudden movements. Such actions will help ensure the safety of both the residents and the animals. If the animal is behaving aggressively or approaching, try to look bigger – raise your hands, gather in a group, but do not shout or make sudden movements, as this may scare or anger it. It is important not to chase the animal, do not chase it with a car and do not encourage it to move further towards people.
