On 30 March 2015, the annual Spring Trail polar bear protection expedition will get underway. This is the time of year when bear cubs and their mothers leave their family dens. After emerging from the winter shelter, they stay nearby and mothers teach their cubs how to survive in the difficult Arctic conditions. This is also the time when polar bears are especially vulnerable and may become easy prey for poachers.

“Work this year began in the Arctic area of Yakutia,” head of the WWF’s Polar Bear Patrol, Viktor Nikiforov, said. “There one of the groups explored the coast of the East Siberian Sea to the west of the Indigirka River estuary. Throughout April, data will be collected from many inhabited localities and polar meteorological stations. This year on 4 April, a two-week expedition will start from the village of Chersky to Bear Islands. From there we will try to transmit data online.”

The expedition will conclude in late April.

(Photo © Viktor Nikiforov)