Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
International Polar Bear Day is celebrated annually on February 27. The date was established to draw attention to the conservation of the planet's largest land predator.
Conserving the polar bear population is a key focus of Rosneft's environmental program. Polar bears are a key bioindicator species, providing valuable insight into the health of Arctic ecosystems. Furthermore, polar bears enjoy special conservation status and are included in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation and the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
In collaboration with leading Russian scientists, the Company has been conducting polar bear research expeditions since 2014. During this time, the Company has organized 10 scientific expeditions. In 2024, Rosneft began a new four-year cycle of polar bear research as part of the corporate Tamura program for preserving the biodiversity of Arctic ecosystems.
In 2024, scientists conducted a polar bear census during the ice-free period on the northwestern coast of Taimyr and the islands of the Kara Sea. A total of 50 Arctic predators were recorded. For the first time in Russian practice, transmitters with satellite radio tags were attached to the males to monitor the animals' seasonal migration, their activity, and to study maternity dens and feeding areas. A total of 36 polar bears were tagged during Rosneft's expeditions.
In 2025, scientists conducted the first full-scale aerial census of the Kara subpopulation of polar bears. The specialists completed 25 flights, covering a total of nearly 24,000 kilometers. During the expeditions, they captured approximately 170,000 photographs, as well as 540,000 infrared images, which are currently being processed using artificial intelligence.
The results obtained help significantly expand and update information on the polar bear population in the Russian Arctic, including their migration routes and physical condition, and help develop conservation measures. The data is also used in the preparation of the Company's ecological atlases.
Rosneft is implementing a comprehensive program to support and protect polar bears living in the wild without their mothers' care. Thanks to this program, six orphaned polar bear cubs have been rescued in the Russian Arctic.
Since 2013, the Company has been caring for all polar bears in Russian zoos. Currently, the Company is the caretaker of 36 polar bears in 16 zoos across the country, providing their housing, feeding, veterinary care, and enclosure renovations. As part of the corporate polar bear care program, seven new enclosure complexes have been built at zoos, and existing enclosures are renovated and refurbished annually. In 2025, with the Company's support, three ice generators were purchased for the Perm and Leningrad Zoos, an X-ray detector for the Udmurtia Zoo, and an ultrasound veterinary diagnostic machine for the Leningrad Zoo, as well as enclosure renovations at four zoos. The Company also supported the development of special toys to increase the animals' physical activity.
The company is also involved in educational activities. For example, in 2025, Rosneft, together with the non-governmental development institute Innopraktika, launched an online course of popular science lectures, "Arctic Wanderer: Polar Bear." It is available to everyone on the educational platform "Lectorium." And with Rosneft's support, the Udmurtia Zoo organized a series of traveling lectures, "In the Footsteps of the Polar Bear."
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Polar Bear Facts:
1. The polar bear is the planet's largest land predator. Average weight is 350–450 kg, body length up to 2.5 m, but some individuals grow up to 3 m and weigh up to 800 kg!
2. Polar bear fur isn't actually white, but translucent. The hair is hollow inside, filled with air—this helps the animal retain heat better. The skin underneath the fur is black, and the bear's tongue is blue.
3. Newborn bear cubs are about the size of a guinea pig. The cubs stay with their mother for about two years, during which time they learn the skills necessary for survival in the Arctic.
4. Polar bears are among the most voracious zoo inhabitants. They can consume an average of 15 kg of food per day.
5. Polar bears live 20-30 years in the wild, and 30-35 years in zoos.
Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft February 27, 2026
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.