The Russian Geographical Society (RGS) is opening the first ever permanent scientific laboratory for the study of the polar bear at the year-round Omega station.
Among its priorities is a comprehensive study of the habitat of one of the country's main predators, as well as environmental safety and development of the Northern Sea Route.
In 2024, as part of the Russian Geographical Society expedition to Franz Josef Land, scientists will monitor the Barents Sea polar bear group and continue to assess its condition.
Scientific groups plan to map the locations of the so-called "maternity wards" of polar bears and analyze the timing of the release of females from their dens.
The expedition will assess the size of the broods on the island of Alexandra Land and study satellite images of the ice cover and data from animals released on the ice, according to the RGS website.
Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished
