21 Aug 2021

Polar Bear Wonderland on Kolyuchin Island

At dinner this evening our Chukotka resident doctor sitting beside me says just two words: "fairy tale", over and over again. Indeed, today our Across the Top of the World voyage has been a true fairy tale.

It started with a glorious morning in the Arctic with generous sunshine and a gentle breeze. As we approached Kolyuchin Island we could see a good number of Polar Bears dotting its green slopes. Anchoring Spirit of Enderby near an abandoned Soviet weather station, we set off for a Zodiac cruise.

Every turn of the island's intricate shoreline made us hold our breath and marvel at the wonders of the nature. We saw groups of Polar Bears, single animals swimming off the shore, climbing the rocks or simply enjoying late summer sunlight against the dramatic backdrop of busy bird cliffs. The culmination of the tour was a once-in-a-lifetime experience of observing a female bear nursing her two cubs.

Altogether we observed an astonishing 32 Polar Bears during the Zodiac cruise with some 30 more animals on the top of the island spotted from the ship - a great achievement as we set sail for Wrangel Island.

Yet the day was not over. Transiting through an ice field north of Vankarem in the early evening, the Captain spots several Walrus haul outs on the ice. Together with Expedition Leader, we put our Polar Bear lecture on hold and jump in the Zodiacs. With perfect evening light we enjoyed these wonderful animals for an hour until it was time for dinner.

Image © S.Graupner, Heritage Expeditions