NYC Residents Report Polar Bear Sightings Throughout City
Yesterday, inhabitants of New York reported seeing polar bears in different public places. Scientists are trying to understand how the animals got to the city.âFirst I thought I got crazy, I mean, I saw a bear in the middle of the city! Then I asked my girlfriend if she saw it too. She did! Man, there was a real polar bear walking around NYC as if it was some kind of Antarctica!â says Matt Barrow, one of the witnesses.Â Bears were seen in East Village, Astor Row, Bushwick and Greenpoint. Three times it was one single grown-up bear, and once a person reported seeing a whole family of bears. Only one bear was caught, and has been taken to the Bronx Zoo.Â Today, scientists from Columbia University and New York University met to discuss the issue. âItâs a puzzle, butÂ we haveÂ a few theories and we will find outÂ if one of them is real,â says Dr Hannah Sparks.Â Scientists think the event might be connected to the harsh winter New York City is now experiencing. Some of them believe black bears that live in the state of New York suddenly evolved into polar bears. This incredibly fast evolution is supposed to be caused by weather conditions. âPerhaps bears adjust better than humans. People still cannot accept itâs snowing so much,â says Dr. Sparks. âWe believe the bears left the woods and came to the city, because they got shocked with their own sudden transformation and started wandering around. Other scientists say the bears traveled to The Big Apple from Canada. Animals sensed the coldness of New York City, and realized it is now a great place to live. According to one theory, they traveled through the land, while the second claims they used ice floes and sailed the ocean.âAuthorities are urging people that if they see the polar bears on the streets of New York City to please call Wildlife Management or the local police. They warn residents that they should not touch the animals, as they arenât just white, adorable balls of fur. The fluffiness is just a cover for strength and danger.Â