Ian R. Stone

An incident of polar bear infanticide and cannibalism on Phippsøya, Svalbard

A case of polar bear infanticide and cannibalism is reported from Phippsoya, Svalbard. In this instance, a cub of some 7 months was killed by an adult male bear, which was in poor condition, in the close proximity of the mother, which was also in poor condition. It seems probable that the attack was made for nutritional gain.

Alexander von Middendorff and his expedition to Siberia (1842–1845)

Alexander Theodor von Middendorffs name is closely associated with the exploration of Siberia and research on the natural history of the Russian Arctic. Yet it is surprising that, in the extensive literature in Russian and German on the environment of those regions, there are no specific analyses of Middendorffs important contribution to these areas of research. He is barely mentioned in English language studies on the history of exploration and science in Siberia and there are very few accounts of his life and work. The present paper is largely based on a number of newly discovered archival documents and contemporary literary sources and is an attempt to fill this lacuna. In this account, all dates are given according to the new style calendar.

Russia and the International Polar Year, 1882–1883

While it is well known that the originator of the plans for the first International Polar Year was Carl Weyprecht, and that Georg Neumayer was important in guiding the project in its early stages and to eventual fruition, the pivotal role of Heinrich Wild, who became chairman of the International Polar Commission, and was a member of the St Petersburg Academy of Sciences and of the Russian Geographical Society, has been largely overlooked in this context. Furthermore the important work undertaken by the Russian scientific establishment with regard to the project is also little known. This paper seeks to throw light on these matters. Because of the difference in 12 days in the Russian and European calendars in the 19th century, for the sake of clarity, only the new (European) calendar is employed in the text.

Kolbeinsey: Iceland's Arctic island

Kolbeinsey is a tiny volcanic island to the north of Iceland within the Arctic Circle. It has been much reduced in size in historic times due to erosion. It has considerable geopolitical importance with regard to fishery zones and the exploitation of other natural resources. It is, therefore, in Icelands interests to ensure that it continues to exist, and measures have been taken to ensure this.

Sub-Arctic operations in the Russo-Japanese War, 1904–1905

This note concerns the little known sub-Arctic operations in the Russo-Japanese war, 1904–1905. Apart from a slightly farcical ‘invasion’ of the Kamchatka peninsula by a group of Japanese fishermen, and a naval engagement off the coast of southern Sakhalin, the main operations related to the efficiently conducted Japanese invasion of the sub–Arctic island of Sakhalin itself. This was the only occupation of Russian territory during the war and was intended to strengthen the Japanese position in the peace negotiations, held at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, that brought the war to a close.