The abundance of walrus and large whales suggest this is at least possible.

They have little to eat at this time of year and an old walrus skin makes a welcome distraction. Our journey started at Anadyr, Russia’s easternmost town.

Tracking pioneers and polar bears in Churchill, Canada. Nineteenth-century biologist John Muir described Wrangel as “this grand wilderness in its untouched freshness” in the first writings about the island. It would take another 40 years after Ferdinand Wrangel’s voyage before explorers and whalers actually landed on its shores, first on the small neighboring Herald Island, then on Wrangel itself—some 200 kilometers from the Siberian coast. Marine lovers will enjoy seeing spotting grey whales, orcas, bowhead,  belugas, and minke whales. They are the unrivaled master-existences of this ice-bound solitude, and Wrangell Land may well be called the Land of the White Bear.”. We know we can always find another one.”. These are just some of the reports from past Lindblad-National Geographic expeditions: “In a morning’s cruise along the northeast coast I counted 183 polar bears on shore—more bears together in one place than I had ever even imagined was possible… A lone bear crossing the tundra with fog pouring down the mountains behind it; five bears appearing one by one out of a low cave just above the beach; three bears climbing a cliff of dark rock beside a small waterfall.”, “They often strike the most incredibly relaxed poses with tummies in the air and limbs spread out in all directions.“, Naturalist Edward Shaw expressed his awe: “This has been one of those days that will be forever etched in our hearts and minds as one of the most remarkable we have ever experienced as naturalists…We will collapse into our beds tonight with enormous thanks for the privilege of what we witnessed today.”, To give Muir the last word, here he expresses his awe and joy upon laying eyes on the polar bears on the ice pack around the island: “But the grand excitement of the day, apart from the untrodden shore we were seeking, was caused by three polar bears, magnificent fellows, fat and hearty, rejoicing in their strength out here in the bosom of the icy wilderness.”.

“Nothing brought here  was ever taken away – until last year.” The drums are now being cleared - 10,000 per season. In 1976 the Soviet Central Government deemed the island to be a strict nature reserve. The sun was warm, the sea calm and everything was in sharp focus.

Prices for these expedition cruises start from about $11,000 per person. Until a couple decades ago, Wrangel Island and, We saw this polar bear while driving across the island. I spent a long time sitting on the beach watching the whales splash around just offshore, it was magical. Polar Bears International. The ptichy bazaar is appropriately named; these seabird cliffs were crammed with noisy, busy birds attending chick-filled nests like competing stalls, perched precariously on precipitous ledges. I found that most Russians don’t have much respect for the Arctic people. Also, on-board were Heritage Expedition owners and experienced crew, Aaron & Nathan Russ. ); and the Pleistocene-era records held in the island’s soil and flora give insights into ancient biodiversity that’s unique in all the world. He estimated this bowhead was 200 years old – a survivor of the heyday of Arctic whaling whose visit made Whale Bone Alley seem all  the more evocative. The lectures provided on board were extremely interesting and I did not miss one. We sighted many Grey Whales feeding on our route, before landing at Sekliuk Bay. This is when the pack ice in the Chukchi Sea has retreated enough to allow passage through the cold region. The warming climate means there is less sea-ice each year – a direct threat to wildlife, especially polar bears – and more open water, making northern sea-routes increasingly attractive to commercial shipping and larger cruise ships. . Since then Burnham has thrown himself into adventure travel. A family of 8 or so were drawn to a whale carcass floating in the ice. New species are already testing the land and waters, with confirmed use of its rivers by salmon—including one exploratory run of sockeye.

Wrangel Island, Russia is well-known as a critical denning location in the Chukchi Sea polar bear (Ursus maritimus) population, but little is known about abundance and distribution of bears there. Cetaceans such as bowhead whales, gray whales, and belugas can be seen close to shore. “They wake up, drink, and go back to sleep,” one of our ship’s Russian crew shrugged dismissively. 2020 Lindblad Expeditions - National Geographic. We even smelled its cabbagey breath – the only time I’ve ever welcomed the stink of school dinners.

A snowy owl surveys the island's vast landscape. Layered like the Michelin Man, I found myself huddled at the head of a snake of semi-visible Zodiacs speeding between ice sheets into an all-encompassing silvery grey.



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