A Russian photographer captures images of polar bears that have taken over abandoned structures.

Polar bears are very fascinating creatures, since they are the largest extant bear species and the largest terrestrial carnivores. Most of us, however, are accustomed to seeing them engulfed in snow on the icy seas of the Arctic. This is why we were taken aback when we learned that Russian photographer Dmitry Kokh had captured these massive creatures at an abandoned meteorological station on Kolyuchin Island in the Chukchi Sea. The station opened in 1934 and was decommissioned in 1992. Polar bears wandering about in what appears to be a post-apocalyptic human land is unique.

“I’ve always wanted to photograph polar bears, and that was the primary goal of our excursion.” We anticipated to see them largely on Wrangel Island, which is famed across the world for its large bear population. Not this year, as we discovered later—possibly due to the extremely chilly summer. But nature usually brings you something unexpectedly—we saw some activity in the abandoned windows on Kolyuchin Island on Chukotka’s northern shore when we went by. And as we got close enough, we realized they were bears! They had never been spotted in those structures before, so it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” the photographer explained to 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

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

Abandoned weather station on Kolyuchin Island in the Chukchi Sea

“I’m finally home after a lengthy vacation to Chukotka and Wrangel Island.This location, in the furthest and most eastern point of the Russian Arctic, is not only difficult to reach but also impossible to forget.”We journeyed down the coast by sailing yacht and saw almost 1200 miles of unspoiled landscapes, communities lost in time, rich wildlife, and vibrant waters,” Dmitry posted on Instagram.

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

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

Just your regular largest land carnivores, chilling

Here are the amazing bears in action

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

Here are the amazing bears in action

Originally published on the beautyofplane