KLEIN AND HUBERT / MROBERT HARDING / GETTY IMINDEN PICTURES (POLAR BEAR FAMAGES (CUBS IN DEN); MITSUAKI IWILY, MAGO / MAIN); THORSTEN MINDEN PICTURES ILSE /
(WALKING TRIO); DANIEL J. COX / GETTY IMAGES (CUBS PLAYING); MARTIN WALZ (MAP)HOW THESE ADORABLE CUBS
LEARN TO LIVE ON THE ICEBY SCOTT ELDER
Two tiny polar bear cubs poke their heads out of a hole and scan the
snowy Arctic landscape. It’s quiet except for their little squeals, urging
their mom to join them outside the den.
They watch excitedly as the much larger female appears behind them.
The mother polar bear stands tall on her hind legs, towering above her
twins. She scans the horizon for possible threats. The cubs probably don’t
understand that the Arctic can be dangerous for them, even though adult
polar bears—the largest land carnivores on Earth—have no natural
predators. What they do know is that their mom’s grunt means it’s safe
to emerge from the family’s igloo-like winter den.
After their eyes adjust to the sunlight, the pair clumsily scramble after
Mom. Although they’re roughly two months old, the cooped-up cubs have
never really used their legs before. Soon they’re play wrestling like little
kids until their mother has had enough, grunting to signal that playtime is
over. It’s time to find food.TWO CUBS PEEK OUT
FROM THEIR DEN IN
WAPUSK NATIONAL
PARK, CANADA.12 NAT GEO KIDS^ • DECEMBER 2019 | JANUARY 2020
Most polar
bears give birth
to twins.