Dmitry Kokh's Image

Dmitry Kokh (Russia) presents this haunting scene of polar bears shrouded in fog at the long-deserted settlement on Kolyuchin.

On a yacht, seeking shelter from a storm, Dmitry spotted the polar bears roaming among the buildings of the long-deserted settlement on the small island of Kolyuchin. While the females and their cubs kept closer to the shore, the males padded among the discarded fuel barrels. As they explored every window and door, Dmitry used a low-noise drone to take a picture that conjures up a post-apocalyptic future.

Polar bears are curious by nature and opportunistic hunters. In the Chukchi Sea region, these usually solitary bears migrate further north in the summer, following the retreating sea ice which they depend on for hunting their main prey - seals.

In September 2021, the loose pack ice stayed near the coast of this rocky island and the bears came ashore to investigate.

Sugandhi Gadadhar, wildlife filmmaker and judge said, 'This is a perfect example of how animals can adapt to any situation or setting, if we do not interfere with them. Or is it a warning of how things are to be in the future – where wildlife is seen more in urban landscapes, while their own homes are dwindling?'