From Wahlenbergfjord, the researchers took a helicopter to track the polar bears they wanted to earmark, collar and take DNA samples from The collars are connected to satellites, so the researchers can track the bears’ movements every other hour and collect a number of other data sets. After a certain time, the collar will be released automatically. The researchers hope to use this information to understand more about how decreasing ice is influencing polar bears’ behaviour – and to hopefully help to inform political and administrative responses to the issue globally

Photograph: Brutus Östling/WWF-Canon