polar bears

The capture mission last night was successful- one recaptured female who was fitted with a fresh satellite collar and one large male.

At distance, a single polar bear is in sight. It is like a light dot in a enormous white landscape.

The expedition is a great opportunity for polar bear researchers to share notes and experiences, and discuss new, less invasive technology.

Tom Arnbom on the rapid and worrying change to Svalbard’s sea ice.

Cracking ice pushed aside by the Lance, wakeup call at 5:00. We are entering Smeerenburgfjord, named after the Dutch settlement Smeerenburg (blubber town), the largest 17th century Dutch whaling station on Svalbard.

While I’ve had the privilege to see much of the Arctic through both work and leisure, this is my first time in Svalbard.

A Norwegian Polar Institute and WWF-Canon scientific expedition sets off tomorrow to collect critical data about Europe’s most westerly polar bear population.

Kara, aka N26135, was tagged in Svalbard in spring. During the summer and autumn months, she performed a record long journey from Svalbard past Franz Josef Land in Russia and all the way to Severnaya Zemlja.

Day to day life on a small research ship in the Arctic, and our favourite moments.

Follow a research expedition to the Canadian Arctic in stories and photos.