In late August 2010, scientists discovered that a polar bear's satellite tracking collar, which was put on the bear by Vladimir Putin during his visit to Franz Joseph Land last April, had been thrown off. Scientists from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who conducted the first experiment on monitoring male polar bears via tracking devices, think that this is quite a normal occurrence, connected with the animal's growth.

Female polar bears have been tracked in this way all over the world, as the shape of their necks and heads allows the collars to remain on them for a long time. Female bears do not continue to grow as adults, while male bears grow their whole lives.

Thrown off by the bear, the tracking collar continues to send signals and allows the scientists to monitor the movement of Arctic ice, which is extremely active at this time of year.

Meanwhile, the scientists at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution intend to put several tracking collars on polar bears in upcoming expeditions to continue studying their population.