Little is known about the polar bears, walrus and whales of Russia’s Kara Sea. This spring, WWF sponsored an expedition to this remote Arctic sea, for a preliminary survey (read part 1 here). Dmitry Ryabov of WWF-Russia reports:
We load into two helicopters – next stop, latitude 80.
Helicopter used in Kara Sea expedition © Dmitry Ryabov / WWF-Russia But first, we attach a GoPro!
Attaching GoPro to the helicopter © Dmitry Ryabov / WWF-Russia Before we say goodbye to the land and head out to sea, we land in the middle of the tundra for refueling. Drums of fuel mar the view – a legacy of the Soviet era.
Drums of fuel on the Russian tundra © Dmitry Ryabov / WWF-Russia The locals tell us these dogs have been here all winter, on their own. What they ate remains a mystery, but we suspect they hunted Arctic foxes, which are found in these parts. Dogs are a constant presence at Arctic stations, so no doubt we’ll meet more furry friends on this trip.
Dogs at a refueling station near the Kara Sea, Russia. © Dmitry Ryabov / WWF-Russia Fueled up, we head out to the Kara Sea. Even for us, people who have spent much of our lives in the Arctic, the vast ice desert is mesmerizing.