Part 12: Anadyr
We finally make it back to the city of Anadyr, the capital of Chukotka. We are here to meet with key decision makers and agency officials whose support is essential to our work in the region. Our first meeting is with Vasily Maximov, director of the Chukotka regional Department of Agriculture, which oversees matters related to wildlife management. We provide an overview of our trip and ask for his support on several issues, including the creation of a protected area, a Nature Monument, on the Vankarem Cape to allow for protection and careful management of this walrus haul-out.

WWF worked closely with leaders in Vankarem to develop the idea, which was supported enthusiastically by local residents in a referendum last fall. Mr. Maximov is pleased, and suggests that Chukotka should have a series of protected areas along the coast. He recalls a 20-year old proposal to create an enormous national park in the region that would encompass most of the Chukotka Peninsula's 737,000 sq. kilometers. Even though he says "That's not realistic!" He does think a series of smaller areas in key places would make sense.

This is great news for us! While WWF has been extremely effective in creating protected areas across the Russian Arctic, there have been no new areas designated in Chukotka for years. In fact, several wildlife refuges have been closed. WWF has advocated for their re-establishment and will continue to do so.

Mr. Maximov also supports another proposal offered by Vlad: moving an airstrip in the village of Reirkaipi to reduce air traffic disturbance near another walrus resting area. The Chukotka Aviation Administration has been planning to repair the airstrip, and Vlad sees this as an opportunity to re-build it in an entirely new place away from the coast. He has observed that only a few walrus are using this ideal habitat because the disturbance factor is so great. He would ultimately like to designate the rocky cape in Reirkaipi as a "no-disturbance zone" to limit all traffic and human activity during the fall, when walruses come ashore. Maximov agrees to take up the matter with the aviation agency.

Our discussion around Maximov's large table is documented by local media representatives. One of them, Alyona Vakarikh, is a spunky, outgoing radio journalist and she invites us to join her later for her evening show. Alyona's daily news reports are heard all over Chukotka, and her evening talk show is especially popular among the younger set. We are live on the air as she asks us about WWF and our trip and soon the lines are buzzing with comments and questions -- mostly about bears-- from listeners.