Polar Bear Cubs Leave Their Den For First Time To Play In Snow

Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor

Mar 9, 2021 9:00 AM EST

Get ready for some of the most paw-dorable pictures you've ever seen. Brian Matthews captured these amazing, rare and beautiful pictures near Churchill, northern Canada of polar bear cubs leaving their den with their momma for the very first time to play around in the snow. The pictures clearly capture the nerves the cubs feel of leaving their den for the first time, gazing adoringly at their mom and staying close to her while exploring this beautiful new world.

As The Irish Sun reports, Matthews said: "It was very humbling to be able to see something that very, very few people get to see. The cubs were really interested in the world in general, they were investigating and playing in the snow, smelling trees, looking around and generally getting their bearings."

He continued: "They seemed quite confident running about and playing in the snow, as long as they weren't too far from their mother. You can see in the photos of them all lying together how big these tiny cubs are going to grow up to be. It was just absolutely amazing to see the cubs playing in front of us, only about 50 metres away, and not at all fazed or spooked that we were there. It's heartening to see the positive side of polar bear conservation work."

Only after they calmed down a bit did the mother bear go and have a big ol' nap, her kiddos continuing to play around in the snow next to her. We hope we will get to see many, many more pictures of animals loving their natural habitats, and that this was the pawfect, smile-inducing start to your morning that you were hoping for.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to start your Caturday with the funniest felines on the internet!

Add as a preferred
source on Google

01

via SWNS:South West News Service

The way that this cub so adoringly gazes at his momma is what really got to us. In all of these pictures, but especially in this one, the love is palpable. You can just see how nervous they are, how much they are looking to her for guidance, and that is absolutely incredible to us.
02

via SWNS:South West News Service

Here too, the same thing. There is so much adoration in the cub's eyes. We have never seen pictures that are quite this wholesome before. The love is so pure, so instinctive. And we know how incredibly rare it is to catch something so natural happening in the wild on camera like this.
03

via SWNS:South West News Service
04

via SWNS:South West News Service
05

via SWNS:South West News Service
06

via SWNS:South West News Service
07

via SWNS:South West News Service
08

via SWNS:South West News Service

Can't get enough of ICanHasCheezburger? Then you're in luck because we're now on Instagram!