MATERNAL
MATERNAL
The challenge of being a Mother Bear
Far north into the Arctic Pack Ice, she was swimming with the two cubs. The yellow sun was piercing through the thick fog. The mother bear has the biggest duty : keeping her cubs and herself safe and well fed. Wise and experienced, the bear mother knows how to save their energy and when to use it. You could tell, by looking at the round bellies that her and her cubs were having. It was their lucky day. Soon, the biggest bearded seal would serve them dinner, but an unexpected guest decided to show up and disturb their feast. A lonely female bear, attracted by the nice smell of victory. She was no match to the mother bear, who made sure to stay her ground. The cubs, on the other hand, were more sceptical to the stranger and took a step back, making it difficult for the mother, trying her best to bring her cubs back to the carcass.
Into the mist
In the mist, a mother bear and her two cubs, wondering in the north of the Arctic Packice.
Catch of the day
A huge bearded seal. A perfect prey for the family. Polar bears have seals as their go-to food : very fat rich, and even if they can be hard to catch sometimes, they can’t match the physical domination of the polar bears. Hunting is the most important thing a Polar bear mother could teach her offspring.
A visitor
A fourth bear decides to join the party, trying to take advantage of an already killed prey. Rules and manners don’t apply to the Arctic.
Standing grounds
The stranger tries to intimidate the Mother Bear, but this one won’t budge. She knows she will stand her grounds. This younger stranger is no match to her.
Cubs on the lose
If the mother is not intimidated by the stranger, the cubs, on the other hands were more sceptical to meeting her up close.
Mother comfort
The bear mother went back and forth several times between the cubs and the carcass, torn appart, between securing her catch, and making the cubs feel safe. After a while of struggle, she joind her cubs, bringing them comfort by nursing them. This made the cubs regain courage and dare to go back to the carcass, with the mother leading up front, chasing the stranger away, freeing the space for her and the cubs to finish their dinner in peace.
