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You know, that bit of Siberia that nearly reaches Alyaska!
A little cryptozoology, if I may. Anyone here heard of the rumoured existence of a huge bear up in the far eastern Russian Arctic? Chukchi aboriginal reindeer herders are the source of the rumours, but are reported to deny any 'mystical' or 'supernatural' aspect of what they regard simply as a rare and distinct species. The Inuit on the opposite side of the Bering Strait also tell of such a monster. Aklo and Irkuyem are native names for it. More than twice the size of a Polar Bear, with an odd 'hyaena-like' figure, caused by its longer forelegs...
I first came across it in a travelogue I'm reading at the moment by Marina Galkina. A quick Net Search didn't reveal much in English, so I've been mining the 'RuNet' for more information.
Some good stuff there:
http://www.vokrugsveta.ru/vs/article/2042/
http://gallery.net.ru/lib/kuvaev/twocolor.html
http://unusualanimals.info/polumif/017.php
I'm tired now, it's late, but I'll translate a few highlights tomorrow.
Sabre-toothed relics of the ancient Cave Bear who so fascinated our earliest Europeans are mentioned!
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