In late March, a group of scientists from the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the Russian Academy of Sciences arrived at Alexandra Land as part of a comprehensive expedition of the Russian Geographical Society. They will assess the sighting frequency and current state of polar bears, as well as the number and location of maternity dens.

On 27 March–21 April, the scientists rode snowmobiles and off-road vehicles on routes along the central part of the island, the northern coast, from Zveroboi Bay to Ilayev Bay, Cape Nimrod and Dezhnyov Bay. They covered 1,460 km in total.

“Ten polar bears were seen in the area, five males and five females. Three maternity dens were located. Also we monitor daily an open den that the female hasn’t left yet,” said head of the group Ilya Mordvintsev (PhD in Biology), senior researcher at the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution.

The scientists managed to catch five males and three females. They took morphometric measurements, weighed the bears, and collected samples of blood, fur and excrement for genetic, biochemical and toxicological analyses. Argos tracking collars were put on the females. After recovering from immobilisation, the animals were left in their natural environment at the site of their capture.

In 2021, research on Alexandra Land is being carried out by employees of the RAS Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution together with the Russian Arctic nonprofit organisation, with the support of the Arctic Research Centre.