A man living in northern Ontario saved his wife from being mauled by a polar bear after leaping onto it in her defence, according to local police.
The Nishnawbe Aski Police Service reported that the unnamed man suffered serious injuries, however, he is expected to make a full recovery.
The couple left their house early Tuesday morning to search for their dogs when the polar bear, which was already standing in their driveway, lunged at the woman.
The incident occurred in the small community of Fort Severn First Nation, home to about 400 people in the province’s far north.
“When police arrived on scene they located a deceased polar bear and learned an adult male had been transported to the community nursing station to have his injuries assessed and treated,” reads the Nishnawbe Aski Police statement.
“The woman slipped to the ground as her husband leapt onto the animal to prevent its attack. The bear then attacked the male, causing serious but non-life-threatening injuries to his arm and legs.”
Fortunately, a neighbour arrived with a firearm during the attack and shot the bear several times.
The bear swiftly retreated to a nearby wooded area and subsequently died as a result of its injuries.
The man was taken to a nearby community nursing station to be treated for his injuries while police continued to patrol the area to ensure no other bears were roaming the area.
Local authorities said that while polar bear sightings are fairly common, attacks are rare.
Fort Severn is located near Hudson Bay and polar bears tend to prefer staying in bay areas as they make good grounds for hunting seals.
However, after the ice breaks up, which happened unusually early for Hudson Bay this year, polar bears will travel inland in search of food.