Experts of the World Wildlife Fund handed over the Sokol all-terrain vehicle to the polar bear patrol team of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug in the village of Amderma, which is located on the coast of the Kara Sea.

Powerful and passable transport is necessary for patrol officers to expel polar bears from the village over long distances and prevent possible conflict situations between people and Arctic predators. The need for such equipment was clearly proved by the incident last summer, when a polar bear came to the camp to the reindeer herders and tore to pieces two riding deer. The incident happened thirty kilometers from Amderma. In general, that year was "hot" for the bear patrols. Polar bears visited settlements on the coast of the Kara Sea almost every day.

“WWF has supported bear patrols for over 15 years. Situations in their work are different, the Fund's experts are always in touch and listen to the wishes to support and improve their voluntary work. Last year, we launched the project "Arctic - a safe home for everyone", which was supported by our supporters in the New Year's campaign. We hope that the Sokol will faithfully serve as a patrol, not fail in work and help in our important common cause - the preservation of the Red Book species and the owner of the Arctic - the polar bear. Thanks to the supporters of the Fund for supporting this project!” – Oleg Sutkaitis, Director of the Barents Office of WWF-Russia.

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ATV "Sokol"

(с) Tatiana Yulusova/WWF Russia

Transport for the Arctic tundra must be reliable and durable. With such impressive equipment, patrol officers will be able to work more efficiently and maintain a safe environment in the Arctic villages and beyond. The advantage of the massive wide tires of the Sokol all-terrain vehicle is its cross-country ability, and at the same time they do not harm the soil cover of the Arctic tundra, which is sensitive to any impact and takes a long time to recover.

“We live in the Arctic, the weather here is, to put it mildly, harsh. The situations with bear calls are unpredictable every time. Thanks to the support of the Foundation, we are now ready for different scenarios and will be able to drive predators away for long distances. Thanks to the supporters and experts of the World Wildlife Fund for supporting our work and the New Year's miracle that you all managed to accomplish together! ”, - Yuri Popovich, head of the Polar bear patrol brigade in the village of Amderma, Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

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(с) Tatiana Yulusova/WWF Russia

The transport was purchased thanks to the support of the Foundation's supporters as part of the New Year's charity campaign 2021-2022. Also, for patrolmen, sets of hats and mittens were purchased, for comfortable movement in transport in winter, and binoculars with good optics, for examining the surroundings from long distances. Specially for guests of the Arctic villages, leaflets were printed, which spelled out the algorithm of actions when meeting with a polar bear. The warning system for the local population, which the Fund's experts installed in November last year, has been improved.

“Thanks to the transferred equipment, the patrolmen have already carried out the first drive of a young polar bear. On behalf of the whole team of the World Wildlife Fund, I would like to express my gratitude to the supporters of the Fund who supported us, as well as to the volunteers of the Bear Patrol project, and wish them success. Our patrolmen are real heroes who protect people and wildlife,” Sergey Uvarov, WWF-Russia project coordinator in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

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ATV "Sokol" is enlisted in the brigade of the polar bear patrol of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug

Test drive of the new Sokol transport