Yes, really. Bears which are found wandering in the town itself are drugged and moved to a specially built polar bear jail - this picture is taken just outside. They're kept there for several days before being released at some distance from the town. The jail can hold 35 bears, but sometimes there are more than that, and in that case the extra bears are airlifted, dangling under helicopters in huge nets, to a long way from town. While in jail the bears are not fed - otherwise they would just want to come straight back. They also like the town dump, reputed to be the most photographed garbage dump in the world.
Copyright © 2004, John Harper