Tourists and researchers aboard the vessel Akademik Shokalskiy witnessed an extraordinary scene on Wrangel Island, where over 200 polar bears gathered, likened to grazing sheep. The attraction? The scent of a whale carcass.
Capt. Rodney Russ, leading the expedition, described the unforgettable sight, “We counted over 150 polar bears of all ages feeding on the dead bowhead whale.” The bears, drawn to the area around September 19, lingered until the carcass was consumed a day or two later.
Wrangel Island, often dubbed the “Galapagos of the North,” boasts the highest polar bear den density globally, accommodating up to 400 mother bears in winter. The island’s popularity among polar bears during summer has surged due to diminishing ice in surrounding areas.
