Wrangel Island: An Untouched Arctic Wilderness

Covering an area of 7,670 square kilometers, Wrangel Island is located in the Arctic Ocean, 140 kilometers from the northern coast of Russia.

Currently, the island has no permanent population. Only the staff of the nature reserve and the hydrometeorological station reside there year-round. Their numbers increase in summer with the arrival of researchers and scientific expedition participants, while in winter, only a small guard team remains on site.

Wrangel Island is distinguished by its pristine environment. It hosts nearly the entire world population of snow geese — approximately 100,000 individuals. In total, over 170 bird species have been recorded on the island. It is also the main resting place for Pacific walruses in the Chukchi Sea. The island is home to tundra lemmings, reindeer, and ermines.

Moreover, Wrangel Island is often referred to as the “maternity” of the polar bear, as it hosts one of the largest concentrations of polar bear dens in the world.

Since 1976, Wrangel Island has held the status of a federal nature reserve, and it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004.

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🐱 The Guardian Cats: 280 Years of Service at the Winter Palace

🎁 In the underground vaults of the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, amidst stone arches and centuries-old secrets, live the silent guardians of the Hermitage: the cats. Their service began in 1745, when Empress Elizabeth Petrovna ordered, "Let there be cats to hunt mice." Under Catherine II, they became state agents, with the right to be fed and cared for. Having survived sieges, revolutions, and periods of neglect, they have remained loyal to the palace.

🎁 During the Siege of Leningrad (1941–1944), the city was overrun by rats and mice that destroyed food supplies, damaged documents, and threatened epidemics. After the siege was lifted, cats were brought to Leningrad from all over the country. Some of them were assigned to the Hermitage to combat the rats that had invaded the museum during the war.

🎁 In the 1960s, there was a plan to do without their services, but the attempt failed: no modern method of rodent control could match the effectiveness of these simple cats. Therefore, the cats were reinstated at the Hermitage, where they have since received official employee status: each working cat has a personal bowl, a cushion, a litter box, a veterinary record, a passport, and a subcutaneous microchip containing its complete profile.

🎁 In old age, "retired cats" are placed in families. Every third Friday of the month, adoption days are organized: candidates are interviewed, their details verified, and priority is given to couples with children.

〰 The museum administration sets a maximum number of 50 cats. The "excess" cats are entrusted to good families during special operations. The new owner then receives a certificate: "Owner of a Hermitage Cat," granting free lifelong entry to the exhibition halls.

〰 These cats are not just residents of the basement. They are the living thread that connects the eras. Dignified, wise, and slightly ironic, they seem to know all the secrets of the palace. And if, in the silence of the corridors, you suddenly hear a soft purr, be aware: it is the very spirit of the Hermitage speaking to you.

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Hello friends! We are ready to present you an exclusive interview with Maria Butina!

Interview #6 ⤵️