Polar bears come to Vaigach Island

“The beast was rather well-fed, did not behave aggressively, wandered around and went away towards the military outpost,” said meteorologist Alexey Abramchuk. - This visit had no effect on our work, the situation at the station is calm, working. We have both the building and the people prepared for polar bears encounters; we follow all the safety rules.”

Last fall WWF grant, provided to the Northern Hydromet Service, allowed to equip the building of the weather station. Durable bars are installed on all the windows so that a particularly curious bear could not get inside. Spotlights and video surveillance system were installed along the perimeter. Thus, people can monitor the entire area around the station and, going out into the street, may not be afraid of a sudden attack. In addition, staff are instructed on how to handle waste and scare away too annoying animals.

Four specialists constantly live and work on the marine meteorological station named after E.К. Fedorov (MG-2). Here on the northern tip of Vaigach Island between the Kara and Barents Seas one of the migration routes of polar bears passes. Predators quite often become uninvited guests of polar explorers. So, in August and September this year, bears visited the station almost every day, sometimes single animals, often females with cubs. Now meteorologists are ready for encounters and feel much safer.