The world’s largest Chukchi-Alaska polar bear population lives in Russia’s Chukotka Autonomous District, while Wrangel Island in the Chukchi Sea is home to the largest ‘birth centre’ of the Red Book animal. The Indigenous Peoples of Chukotka have long lived in close proximity to polar bears and have gained unique experience about how to interact with the predators while avoiding conflict situations.
The ‘Universe of the Polar Bear’ International Scientific and Practical Conference has been held in the Chukotka Autonomous District since 2017 at the initiative of Governor Roman Kopin and is part of the main events of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023. The event aims to study the state of the polar bear population, protect the Red Book species, and study the experience of Indigenous Peoples in their peaceful coexistence with the main Arctic predator.