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Russian Bear Swims to China, Frightens Locals

A Russian black bear has been captured and released back into the wild after swimming across the Wusuli river from Russia into China's Heilongjiang Province, China's Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.

Guards along the northeast border reported attempts by local fishermen to prevent the bear's crossing, but the bear landed in a riverside park, frightening visitors before fleeing into a nearby house.

Chinese forestry officials used a rifle loaded with anesthetic to capture the bear and then released him into a remote forested area.

The local government has reported four bears crossing the border since Aug. 20, according to Xinhua.

Two Siberian tigers released into the wild by President Vladimir Putin crossed into China in 2014.

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