Russia and the United States have launched a joint seal survey in the Bering Sea.

A team of researchers will make multiple flights from the Russian to U.S. coast and back surveying seals on ice with thermal cameras from the height of 300 m.

The largest ever seal survey of its kind, it will study four most ice-dependent seal species – bearded seals, ribbon seals, spotted nerpas and sea hares.

(IF)