Operation 'Den 2009' comes to an end

A polar bear conservation project organised and run by WWF Russia in the Russian Arctic, known as Operation 'Den 2009', has recently come to an end.

As part of the project, several parts of the Arctic coast of Russia have been inspected in order to collect data on the spring distribution of polar bears, particularly maternity denning sites.

A variety of different transportation methods were used in order to conduct this work: sledge dogs, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and helicopters. During the inspection of coastal areas, observers registered the tracks of polar bears, paying special attention to footprints of females with cubs of the year. In some areas special raids were carried out in order to find maternity dens.

The regular polar bear patrol (or ‘Umky Patrol’) groups in Chukotka, Yakutia, Taimyr and Vaigach actively participated in the field stage of the operation. The Marine Mammal Council, the Great Arctic Reserve and the Ministry of Nature Conservation of Sakha (Yakutia) Republic were also involved.

Although the ‘Den 2009’ operation was not completed at the time of writing, it is possible to come to a sad conclusion about the highly critical situation facing polar bears in Russia. Researchers on the project encountered very few dens and polar bear females with cubs of the year in all of the inspected areas. In some coastal areas, which are traditionally rich in maternity polar bear dens, observers did not find any dens at all.

Along approximately 900 kilometres of the Chukotka coast, only 4 dens were found (information about another 3 dens still needs to be confirmed). Helicopters were used to inspect the typical spring ice habitats (over a flight route of about 500 kilometres) between Aion Island and Cape Shmidt. These research flights revealed an abnormally low encounter rate of polar bear tracks; the only female with cubs of the year was found there.

The situation was found to be slightly better in the neighbouring area of Yakutia. On Medvezhyi (Bear) Islands, 5 maternity dens were found.

The critical condition of the Chukchi polar bear population demands urgent measures including scientific studies and anti-poaching activity. It is also important to consider questions about changing the population status of polar bears in the Red Data Book of Russia – to move the population from category 5 (rehabilitated) to at least category 3 (unknown status).