• 

• 

Local authorities began searching for the bear around 11 pm after the bear was seen ambling through the downtown area, but the effort was called off during the night. They say the bruin has left the residential area of the south-central town.

Police issued a public warning, which was broadcast on YLE's national radio and TV channels, but which proved to be counterproductive. While it warned people to stay indoors and away from the town centre, it actually enticed people to the area, hoping for a glimpse of the animal.

"The results were a bit unexpected," said Senior Inspector Hannu Rahikainen of the South Savo Police. "There were an unnecessarily large number of citizens moving around the area, and more were coming all the time. At times, the bear was only a few tens of metres away from the pedestrians, within quite a small area in the Pappilanmäki neighbourhood."