Dzika Rosja Odcinek 5: Arctic

In the Russian Arctic Polar bear cubs play alongside walruses on Wrangel Island. On this remote island life switches between freedom and imprisonment - ice connects it to mainland for part of the year before thawing to leave the worlds highest density of polar bears stranded. They must compete for months, taking what they can from the sea or scavenging on last years frozen scraps – just off the shoreline and in the ice floes, snow white beluga whales are a tempting food source, but tricky to capture. Alongside them white snowy owls and polar foxes follow to clear up any leftovers. Others include the Daurian pika harvesting and storing hay for winter; Siberian chipmunk feeding on stone pine cones in Ussuriland during winter; Tarpan horses standing in deep snow in Yakutia and Argali sheep in Altai Sayan. Siberian newt ; Siberian ibex; Musk deer feeding on lichens, forest reindeer in Siberia and domestic reindeer in Yakutia surviving in the harsh winter conditions. In order to survive here, the wildlife has to make do with short breeding cycles, hibernate for long stretches and protect themselves through layers of fat, thick down or a thick fur. The animals living at or inside the polar circle differ very strongly from those in other parts of Russia. Heavily insulated musk oxen can be found here performing head bashing rutting rituals. These social animals can’t be too active, otherwise they will overheat, even in the extreme cold thanks to their effective coats. Walruses come to the coastline and dodge polar bear attacks. Even the strange life of lemmings can be revealed here – though definitely no mythical mass suicides. And it all takes place where the surreal aurora borealis can be seen high above during the long winter nights. Russia’s northern region is a symphony in white with animals specially adapted to this environment, with visually stunning landscapes and fantastic images of the frozen permafrost tundra. Arctic summer is a brief, intense burst before the world at the polar circle sinks back into darkness and immobility.