The expedition of the Arctic Floating University (APU‑2026) has made an important discovery on Franz Josef Land: scientists have identified about 39 sites where bone remains of marine mammals have emerged from the permafrost. Anna Trofimova, Deputy Head of the Expedition for Scientific Work, shared this information with the TASS news agency.
For the first time, researchers managed to precisely determine the coordinates of the areas where the bones became exposed on the coastal zone — in places where the glacier has retreated. The findings include bones of pinnipeds (most likely seals), whales, and also antlers of reindeer.
Notably, reindeer no longer live on Franz Josef Land — their absence in the region has been recorded for several thousand years. The nearest populations of these animals are found on Spitsbergen and Novaya Zemlya, where the climate is milder and more conducive to their survival.
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