MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. Almost 180 polar bears live on the Bear Islands in Yakutia. Under the White Bear Census project, a neural network processed drone images, Vladimir Chernook, leader of the Arctic Ecosystem Research Laboratory at the Ecology Research Institute said at the Polar Bear Universe conference, held at the Skolkovo Innovation Center in Moscow and Chukotka.

"At the conference last year, we discussed results of the White Bear Census large-scale project's first stage. An expedition to the Wrangel Island found 864 polar bears lived there. In the autumn of 2023, the project continued at the Bear Islands Nature Reserve in Yakutia. From unique Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles, capable of operating in harsh Arctic conditions without creating noise and without disturbing animals, scientists have obtained more than 25,000 high-resolution images and used a neural network to process them. Supported by the artificial intelligence opportunities, the scientists have found 176 polar bears lived on the Bear Islands," the expert said.

Further plans of the White Bear Census include studies at the Gydan National Park on the Yamal Peninsula, at the Bolshoy Arctic Nature Reserve (the Krasnoyarsk Region), at the Ust-Lena Nature Reserve (Yakutia). Scientists will clarify how many polar bears live in the Russian Arctic and will offer measures for their effective protection.

Some 25-29 thousand polar bears live across in the world, and every third polar bear lives in the Russian Arctic. Polar bear is the largest terrestrial predator. It is listed in the Red Data Book. Since 2019, Russia's environment watchdog, Rosprirodnadzor, has recorded 20 conflict situations between a bear and a human.

About conference

The Polar Bear Universe 7th international conference runs on March 19-21 at the Skolkovo Innovation Center in Moscow and in Chukotka's Anadyr. Following the conference, the country plans to create a permanent international expert platform on Arctic biological diversity. TASS is the conference's general news agency.