CHUKCHI SEA, RUSSIA — A group of polar bears has taken over an abandoned Soviet-era research station on Kolyuchin Island, transforming the crumbling outpost into an unlikely shelter.

Drone footage captured by Russian traveler and photographer Vadim Makhorov shows the bears roaming through the buildings, lounging inside, and even playfully interacting with the camera. Makhorov, who was on a sea cruise with tourists in the region, said the animals showed no fear of the drone and instead appeared curious.

The research station, originally established in 1943 and shut down in 1992, has long been deserted, leaving the polar bears free to claim it as their new home.

Wildlife experts note that polar bears are increasingly seeking refuge in abandoned human structures as their natural habitats shrink due to climate change and melting Arctic ice.

The footage has quickly spread online, drawing awe at the rare glimpse into how nature reclaims manmade spaces — and how polar bears adapt in the face of a changing environment.