Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

BoredPanda Add post form topAdd Post Search
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Russian Photographer Takes Photos Of Polar Bears That Took Over Abandoned Buildings
User submission
5.3K
161.9K

Russian Photographer Takes Photos Of Polar Bears That Took Over Abandoned Buildings

ADVERTISEMENT

Polar bears, as the largest extant bear species, as well as the largest land carnivores, are truly captivating creatures. However, most of us are used to seeing them surrounded by snow on the frozen waters of the Arctic. This is exactly why we were surprised to find out that Russian photographer Dmitry Kokh has managed to photograph these large animals at an abandoned weather station on Kolyuchin Island in the Chukchi Sea. The station was built in 1934 and closed in 1992. It is quite unusual to see polar bears walking around in what feels like a post-apocalyptic human land.

“I always wanted to get some nice shots of polar bears, and that was the main target of our expedition. We expected to meet them mostly on Wrangel Island, famous all around the world for being home to many bears. Not this year, as we found out later—maybe because of the very cold summer. But nature always sends you something when you least expect it—when we passed by Kolyuchin Island near the Northern coast of Chukotka, we saw some movement in the abandoned windows there. And when we got close—those were bears! Never before were they seen in those buildings, so that was once-in-a-lifetime situation,” the photographer told Bored Panda.

More info: Instagram | dmitrykokh.com | youtube.com

Wildlife photographer Dmitry Kokh took mesmerizing and unusual photos of polar bears at an abandoned weather station

Image credits: Dmitry Kokh

This photo with a polar bear in the window titled “Summer Season” became the best representation of wildlife in a man-made environment in a competition held by a magazine called “Russia’s Wildlife”.

The photographer had to travel to the farthest and most eastern part of the Russian Arctic to take these shots

Image credits: Dmitry Kokh

ADVERTISEMENT

Abandoned weather station on Kolyuchin Island in the Chukchi Sea

Image credits: Dmitry Kokh

“Finally getting back from a long-awaited trip to Chukotka and Wrangel Island. Being the farthest and most eastern part of the Russian Arctic, this place is very hard to get to but also difficult to forget. We traveled by sailing yacht along the coast and covered more than 1200 miles of untouched landscapes, villages lost in time, diverse fauna, and seas full of life,” Dmitry wrote on his Instagram.

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: Dmitry Kokh

Image credits: Dmitry Kokh

If someone asked how we imagine the end of the world looking, this image comes pretty close

Image credits: Dmitry Kokh

Image credits: Dmitry Kokh

ADVERTISEMENT

“I always wanted to get some nice shots of polar bears, and that was the main target of our expedition,” said the photographer

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: Dmitry Kokh

Just your regular largest land carnivores, chilling

Image credits: Dmitry Kokh

Image credits: Dmitry Kokh

Image credits: Dmitry Kokh

Here are the amazing bears in action

Image credits: Dmitry Kokh

Dmitry has also captured polar bears in a more usual habitat for them

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: Dmitry Kokh

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: Dmitry Kokh

Thanks to talented artists like this, we are able to see the world beyond our daily routines

Image credits: Dmitry Kokh

162Kviews

Share on Facebook
You May Like
Popular on Bored Panda
Add your comment
Add photo comments
POST
mittenkg avatar
FrancesCat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This photographer must have the world's best zoom lens or they're very brave and/or foolish. Polar bears are crazy dangerous!

matthewmikell avatar
Yoinks!
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He uses drones. (The last video at the end of the article is much clearer about it, as the camera soars over ice floes.)

Load More Replies...
oceanblue513 avatar
Znaya
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's amazing how the polar bears have taken an unnatural habitat and made it their own and adjusted. I really enjoyed the 2 bears in the window, it reminded me of waiting for a delivery 😀 Thank you to the photographer, his crew and the drones which kept everyone safe.

kfidei avatar
GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm glad they are still surviving for now. I love polar bears.

edaicy avatar
Eric Daicy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WoW!! Easily some of the best pictures and videos I've seen. What an experience. It's crazy to think about all the land out there where people have not been in years and the animals can live in happiness, never bothered by people. There is so much unexplored areas of the world that just make me wonder, what other kinds of life are living there. This is amazing!! Great photos!!! 🤍

loribarrick avatar
Lori Barrick
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I haven't seen anything this beautiful in such a long time. I absolutely adore polar bears, these photos and videos actually made me cry.

chriszaydel avatar
Chris Zaydel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Polar bears have consistently been used by wildlife groups and the mainstream news as an example of a species in decline. That was true, but not now. Polar bear population is actually growing, and their numbers are higher now than since the 60's, when real efforts began to monitor the population. Unregulated hunting was the problem, but thats been addressed. Those are great pictures. I thought maybe a trail cam, but the drone makes more sense. If you got anywhere near them, it's 100% certain that they would kill you, unlike other types of bear.

jessica-bertram1 avatar
Jessica Bertram
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that is only partly true. their declining numbers are almost entirely due to shrinking sea ice, which we have very little control over now. The IUCN explains this in further detail. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22823/9390963

Load More Replies...
sassybooie avatar
Meeow
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These polar bears look healthier than those poor skinny polar bear in Somerset Island, Canada. The climate change killing all these poor animals

katherinestevens avatar
Katherine Stevens
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know they are fierce creatures but the video made me think of ginormous puppies. Nature is beautiful. It's awesome they made use of an abandoned weather station. It's their house now, someone sign over the deed.

nancypro_lovemanga avatar
Nancy Rémillard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel very lucky I got to see this today. What a lucky photographer, that unlikely setting is mindblowing. Wow, wow, and wow. Thank you for sharing.

circular-motion avatar
Mer☕️🧭☕️
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the third photo it looks like the upstairs still has electricity for those lights to be on.

judyvaldez avatar
Judy Valdez
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish we could make a place for all of them to live in , just for them no matter how big the place must be. We have to help them.

deann24 avatar
Peggy Werner
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love polar bears and your photos and drones captured them in their chillin days. Absolutely love seeing the polar bears. They are so majestic. Thank you for sharing.

stantstk avatar
Stan Tastic
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fabulous photos and beautiful drone videos. Thanks for sharing for all the world to see.

dominicciancibelli avatar
dominic Ciancibelli
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A friend from Serbia introduced me to this place. I find it fascinating and will visit more often as long as advertising doesn’t drive me away.

00peyman avatar
Peyman Shahbazy
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

mittenkg avatar
FrancesCat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This photographer must have the world's best zoom lens or they're very brave and/or foolish. Polar bears are crazy dangerous!

matthewmikell avatar
Yoinks!
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He uses drones. (The last video at the end of the article is much clearer about it, as the camera soars over ice floes.)

Load More Replies...
oceanblue513 avatar
Znaya
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's amazing how the polar bears have taken an unnatural habitat and made it their own and adjusted. I really enjoyed the 2 bears in the window, it reminded me of waiting for a delivery 😀 Thank you to the photographer, his crew and the drones which kept everyone safe.

kfidei avatar
GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm glad they are still surviving for now. I love polar bears.

edaicy avatar
Eric Daicy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WoW!! Easily some of the best pictures and videos I've seen. What an experience. It's crazy to think about all the land out there where people have not been in years and the animals can live in happiness, never bothered by people. There is so much unexplored areas of the world that just make me wonder, what other kinds of life are living there. This is amazing!! Great photos!!! 🤍

loribarrick avatar
Lori Barrick
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I haven't seen anything this beautiful in such a long time. I absolutely adore polar bears, these photos and videos actually made me cry.

chriszaydel avatar
Chris Zaydel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Polar bears have consistently been used by wildlife groups and the mainstream news as an example of a species in decline. That was true, but not now. Polar bear population is actually growing, and their numbers are higher now than since the 60's, when real efforts began to monitor the population. Unregulated hunting was the problem, but thats been addressed. Those are great pictures. I thought maybe a trail cam, but the drone makes more sense. If you got anywhere near them, it's 100% certain that they would kill you, unlike other types of bear.

jessica-bertram1 avatar
Jessica Bertram
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that is only partly true. their declining numbers are almost entirely due to shrinking sea ice, which we have very little control over now. The IUCN explains this in further detail. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22823/9390963

Load More Replies...
sassybooie avatar
Meeow
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These polar bears look healthier than those poor skinny polar bear in Somerset Island, Canada. The climate change killing all these poor animals

katherinestevens avatar
Katherine Stevens
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know they are fierce creatures but the video made me think of ginormous puppies. Nature is beautiful. It's awesome they made use of an abandoned weather station. It's their house now, someone sign over the deed.

nancypro_lovemanga avatar
Nancy Rémillard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel very lucky I got to see this today. What a lucky photographer, that unlikely setting is mindblowing. Wow, wow, and wow. Thank you for sharing.

circular-motion avatar
Mer☕️🧭☕️
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the third photo it looks like the upstairs still has electricity for those lights to be on.

judyvaldez avatar
Judy Valdez
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish we could make a place for all of them to live in , just for them no matter how big the place must be. We have to help them.

deann24 avatar
Peggy Werner
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love polar bears and your photos and drones captured them in their chillin days. Absolutely love seeing the polar bears. They are so majestic. Thank you for sharing.

stantstk avatar
Stan Tastic
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fabulous photos and beautiful drone videos. Thanks for sharing for all the world to see.

dominicciancibelli avatar
dominic Ciancibelli
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A friend from Serbia introduced me to this place. I find it fascinating and will visit more often as long as advertising doesn’t drive me away.

00peyman avatar
Peyman Shahbazy
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

Popular on Bored Panda
Trending on Bored Panda
Also on Bored Panda