Bears and Ferries, Oh My! (July '23 Challenge Question)

GA

You've left a man out of the picture on the west/left bank in rows 5 and 6.

This would be better with bishops and actresses: I don't think you can realistically expect the bears to be able to paddle, understand the instructions and comply.

If the man remains on the boat and only the bear gets off, the man is safe. There are also other similar situations that imply that there are simultaneous get on/get off events to keep the man/men safe but there is no restriction to do that.

Due to the existing statement: "The bears will attack if at any point the number of bears outnumber the men on either side of the river or in the boat", the man remains safe if the bear gets off the boat but the man remains on it. There are also other "critical" moments: for example when two men in the boat reach the shore where there are two bears, they must get off simultaneously from the boat, then one bear gets on the boat, followed by one man.

However, if the boat "can only hold two of them, regardless of species" I wonder how can the bears outnumber the men in the boat?

This is the correct answer! Well done.

The question does not specify the type of technology available to the men, so I will presume they have guns and ammo appropriate for bear hunting.

Being practical men they shoot all 3 bears, skin their hides and remove the gall bladders($10000 in Korea) for sale and put everything in the boat and leave.

Come back in a motor boat and get the last guy---maybe...

Nature is not fair, especially not human nature. Big fish eat little fish, etc.

The bears were stupid for just standing there, knowing they are strong swimmers, and could have eaten the men, and swam across the river with the men in their stomachs.

This is survival of the smartest in action.

I would not do that ,just saying someone probably would.(Perhaps oil company executives?)