Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has got up close and personal with a polar bear. He gave Russian scientists a helping hand in putting a collar on the animal to help track its movement via satellite.

The Russian premier took part in an expedition organized by the Russian government and the Russian Geographical Society, which was launched to assess how global warming affects polar bears.

The collar will monitor the bear’s behavior and migration habits.

“Habitation is getting more and more difficult because of the melting ice caps. It is important for us to know the movements of the polar bear, how it reproduces, and how it rears its young,” Putin said.

Putin pointed out that the Russian government is boosting its efforts to protect the endangered species. Putin also announced a “spring clean” to improve the Arctic’s environment.