Polar Bear Takeover

In 2021, wildlife photographer Dmitry Kokh was taking part in an expedition in the Arctic. One day, bad weather forced the ship he was on to shelter near Kolyuchin, an island off the coast of Russia. The tiny island is home to an abandoned weather station. As Kokh’s boat neared the foggy shore, he noticed movement in the empty buildings. Through binoculars, “we saw the heads of polar bears!” he says.

Kokh flew a special low-noise drone over to the island to take pictures. That helped him avoid frightening the more than 20 bears living there. The bears were inquisitive creatures, says Kokh, “walking around the houses, checking out every door and window.”

Polar bears usually stay away from human settlements. But climate change is causing Arctic sea ice to melt. That’s making it harder for bears to travel, build dens, and hunt for food. As a result, they’re forced into areas where they wouldn’t normally go.