Rosneft launched two research expeditions under its programme to study polar bears on the Arctic shelf.

Experts from the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the Russian Academy of Sciences will conduct research in areas of Franz Josef Land and the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area. They will study the habitat and state of polar bears in the Barents and Kara seas and check the animals for pollution caused by humans. Domestic ultra-light amphibious aircraft will allow them to explore the most remote areas.

During the expeditions, the experts will attach tracking collars to the polar bears to study their migration routes.

In addition, the scientists plan to calculate the polar bear population, density and prey in the following offshore areas: Severno-Karsky, in the eastern part of the Kara Sea, Pritaimyrsky and Ust-Oleneksky in the western part of the Laptev Sea, and the territory in close proximity to them.

The biologists will have to develop projects for long-term population monitoring and to create a model for minimising risks when a person encounters a polar bear. This will help in devising security measures for professionals working in the Arctic and in preserving the polar bear population.