A bear swims in waters in Heilongjiang province near China-Russia border, Aug 27, 2015. (Photo provided by local police)
(ECNS) -- Two bears have shown up in a northern county close to the China-Russia border, forcing local police to initiate an urgent evacuation of residents as efforts to drive the animals away have failed.
The unexpected visitors were first spotted around 5 p.m. on Thursday in Raohe county, Heilongjiang province. They were seen swimming from Russian waters toward fishermen who were working on a boat on the Chinese side. It did not take long for the animals to cross.
Local police failed to drive the bears away despite support from fishermen. Meanwhile the animals, unfazed, continued on to a cornfield and then disappeared.
Local residents were then notified to evacuate as darkness fell. Searches have been resumed on Friday.
