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The press service of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources reported the completion of the autumn aerial monitoring in the "Bear Islands" reserve in Yakutia. Autumn is the best time to count polar bears as they are clearly visible against the snow-covered landscape.
This work is aimed at counting the number of animals inhabiting the Bear Islands archipelago and the coastal part of the reserve. On the first day of research, scientists recorded 99 individuals from a helicopter. After the second flight, more than 70 predators were counted.
Along with visual observations, instrumental multispectral aerial surveys of the polar bear and its habitat were conducted in the reserve for the first time from a helicopter. This method allows obtaining photo and video images not only in the visible range but also in the infrared thermal spectrum, which is especially useful in difficult weather conditions.
A year ago, scientists already conducted multispectral monitoring using unmanned aerial vehicles and artificial intelligence. Then they managed to determine the number of the bear group in the "Bear Islands" for the first time.
Now, specialists will be able to compare the effectiveness of using different aviation carriers and determine the features and expediency of their use for different tasks. This year, artificial intelligence will help scientists recognize polar bears in images taken in various weather conditions. The results of the count will be known after processing tens of thousands of photographs. The obtained data can be used in a large-scale research project called "Polar Bear Census".
As part of the research, specialists also caught one male polar bear. They took samples of biological materials from him, after which the animal was released into the wild. This will help scientists draw conclusions about the physical condition of predators and the features of their food base.
