We are seeing polar bear everyday here in The Hudson Bay!
This series of shots are a mama and cub at play.
Polar Bear health is rated on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being too thin and starving, and 5 being overfed and obese.
I am happy to report that all the bears we are seeing are healthy fours!
The population of polar bears at Hudson Bay are thought to number between 900-1000.
Some estimates indicate Hudson Bay populations may have declined approximately 17%- 22% in recent years, but they have rebounded from all time population lows in the 1950’s-70’s.
All the bears we are seeing look really healthy.
During the end of August, polar bears are in a state of semi-stuporous, walking hibernation, waiting for the waters of the bay to freeze up, so they can head out and hunt seals.
They still do eat and hunt though, and I will show you some photos of this in my next post.
But, for the most part, these lazy August days are spent sleeping, playing and swimming.
This little cub though, seems quite intent on depriving mama of her nap!
The affection between them was beautiful to see.
Cheers to you from the happy, healthy bears of The Hudson Bay~
You meet up with the nicest friends.
I do, and friends of friends, like these ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ s and you Rebecca <3
I can’t quite believe those photographs; they are simply wonderful. A genuine pleasure to see – you must be VERY pleased. And what a privilege to see those creatures at play.
Thanks so much. The whole thing as been like a dream. We saw our first bears about five minutes after landing and have been seeing them everyday since!
That must have been amazing!
Yes. A thrill I have waited a lifetime to see.
Thank you for sharing those wonderful photos, Cindy 😀
Thank you more Irene for appreciating the ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ s
Loved seeing these truly amazing photos, Cindy. Hopefully the waters do freeze for them. You’re so close to me. Just slightly further north. 🙂
Where are you? You live in such a stunning part of the world.
Sudbury, Ontario 🙂
You’ve got the borealis, the berries, the wildlife, and the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area, all so close to you! Lucky you.
What magnificent creatures they are! And, they look so cuddly… were you tempted to join in on the fun 🙂 Great shots!
It is super hard to imagine them as fierce predators, even though one bear was walking around with a seal spine and a couple of ribs in his mouth!
They are around in the summer! Excellent! Glad to see them healthy 🙂 Great photos!
Thank you! They laze around mostly in August, waiting for the freeze-up so they can go sealing on the ice. I actually saw a group of belugas surround a swimming polar bear and bother it.
What a beautiful post! Thanks, Cindy. I’ve seen photos and videos of starving bears, and it breaks my heart and makes me furious, at the same time, so I’m relieved these 2 are healthy. Let’s hope they will continue to thrive, in spite of human activity and climate change.
I share your hopes and feelings. The bears we have seen so far are looking quite good. But in terms of the Hudson Bay population, they are an n of 8 out of 900.
What a pleasure that you make us see these splendid creatures ! Thank you very much, Cindy!:)
Thank you more for appreciating them Marina <3
They’re beautiful!!
<3 ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ <3
These are wonderful photos, Cindy. How lucky you are to see these guys!
Thank you! It was an exceptional experience.
Such cuties! Thank you for sharing these!
Thank you for appreciating the ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ s
The ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ s and I thank you!
We we’re so moved by your pictures that we even double-comment! Sorry about that, but we’re definitely not sorry for seeing those little bears on your replies! Thank you!
You just made me smile, and chuckle, so thank you!
These are stunning!! You must be very brave or have an excellent telephoto lens. 😉 x
I credit my trust Sony which can zoom up to 1200mm equivalent.
My son Domer had a polar bear stuffed animal when he was little — way whiter than this mama and her cub! They’re just so precious — thank you, Cindy, for capturing them at play.
My daughter did too and she was completely attached to her. She called her Gunny Bear and kept her into adulthood.
These are incredibly beautiful shots, Cindy! Polar bears at play, so cute. Was this in the wild?
Thank you Peter, and yes indeed, this is in the very wild, on the shores of The Hudson Bay in Manitoba. We have seen bears everyday and thousands of beluga whales too.
WOW these are FANTASTIC pics Cindy! Thanks for sharing!
The ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ s and I thank you Gary!
Hey Cindy..I’m not that smart on WordPress. I wanted to send an ecologist friend of mine your link so he can see all of your blogs. I thought he would love your pics and info. Do I just give him your https://cindyknoke.com link or does he need to do something else to see all your past blogs. Thx Cindy
Ahh, so thoughtful of you Gary. Thank you! You can send him the link but there is a lot of content. It might be better for him to just google anything he might be interested in, like “cindy knoke parrots”, or bears, or elephants, or countries, Africa, Antarctica etc. I used to be good at tagging posts with topic tags, so they would link together by topic, but I have done less of it lately because WP seemed to discourage it, but it should still work. Also WP does link similar topics on posts for the reader to see related content, so posts on polar bears link to grizzly bears etc which is helpful to see other posts on related topics.
So nice of you Gary. Thanks again & cheers my friend!
Such fun to see them play like this Cindy, what a treat! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂💖 xxx
Thank you! Watching them play clarifies what is important in life <3
Absolutely stunning photos of the polar bears playing. Thank so much, Cindy.
Thank you more for appreciating the ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
Such wonderful photos. Good to see them healthy and happy. 🙂
We are also starting to experience the “grolar bears” – polar/grizzly hybrids caused by the warming Arctic.
Yes. They are mixing up to The Hudson Bay. Grizzly are dominant over polars which surprised me because polars are bigger.
Thank you for these amazing pictures of healthy polar bears. They are adorable, although I would not want to encounter one face to face.
No. Polar bears are best viewed from a safe position and it helps if they just ate!
Fantastic, charming shots!
Thank you beary much <3
How awesome to see them in the wild, majestic creatures!
Aren’t they gorgeous. It is almost hard to imagine them fierce, but they are.
Such beautiful shots, I thoroughly enjoyed watching mama play with her babies. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Thank you for caring about the ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
How a stunning series, Cindy! And, you get to see them everyday! They both look healthy and happy. Thank you for sharing these beautiful and precious photos with us！
Thank you more for appreciating the ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
They do look healthy Cindy, I’m glad they’re okay because there are some who are starving.
Leslie xoxo
I know. Hudson Bay may be the exception. There are thousands of belugas in the bay too and it is basically devoid of development.
It would be nice if it could stay that way….
What a wonderful nature scene you’ve captured with your camera, both the bears and their surroundings! It must have been such a thrill to see them in person.
Yes. I has been and incredible experience. We were seeing bears everyday!
What great family portraits you’ve captured Cindy!!!
I have photographed two sets of moms and cubs. The obvious love and devotion between them is quite moving.
Thank you for sharing. It’s so nice to see this NOT in a zoo.
They are so cute!
It is a bit alarming that their population is declining. I do not know how big the area is but I feel 900-1000 do not seem much.
Hudson Bay is huge, and your are correct. It is a small population for such a vast area. In comparison, there about 50,000 beluga whales in the bay.
That is a concern.
Amazing shots, Cindy, and beautiful play between Momma and her cub! They really made me smile! ❤
That was absolutely wonderful in every way. Thank you so much, Cindy. Beautifuland heartwarming. I’m going to reblog it so more people can see it. <3
Pingback: Polar Play~ — (Cindy’s beautiful pictures of polar bears at play…mom and cub) | Rethinking Life
Marvelous images, Cindy. They do look so very healthy and happy, too…thank you for letting us share the love with you.
Aww! They’re precious! Thank you for sharing these and the statistics!
Thank you more for appreciating them <3
You’re most welcome!
ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
How near are you to these frolicking bears?
Boy, I am bad at estimating distance, but I shot most at full zoom which is 1200mm which gives you an idea.
Great photos!
Grazie mille <3
Wow! So very cool.
They are the ultimate cool bears ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ !
Yes indeed!
Awesome photos! I love polar bears! Hugz sweetie
I <3 people who <3 ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
What a beautiful post! As soon as I saw the first frame, I wanted to see more and you delivered…I’m so glad to read that they are wonderfully healthy. Some of our polar bears are mating with the local brown bears in order to survive…
Yes, I have heard this, which is a surprise. I was also surprised that grizzlies actually dominate polar bears who are bigger. But, I suspect, in winter, the dynamic may change, as polar bears have the advantage of camouflage and can sniff out the sleeping grizzly dens.
You are like an umpire “Play Bear!” Beautiful photos. The first photo looks like they are playing Pattycake. Bears can be so playful and innocent looking, but they are not ones to be played with.
Polar bear appearance is so incongruous. They look like fuzzy teddy bears and their affection for each other reminds me of Paddington Bear, but they are the ultimate predators.
After seeing so many horribly sad stories and photos of starving polar bears lately, these are just pure joy! Thank you so much for sharing them Cindy. You’ve given me a little hope.☺️
Thank you for caring <3 We need hope and so do the bears. You make me happy I posted ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
You take the most fabulous trips! It’s lovely to see these bears and see that they are healthy. They have a lovely floppiness to them when they fall back, don’t they?
The mamas certainly do have this almost disjointed, totally relaxed appearance, as they flop on their backs and are attacked by their cubs. I have seen multiple bears do this and it is utterly charming.
Such a thrill to see your photos, Cindy. The bears are beautiful. Love your polar bear graphic/emoticon too.
Thank you Mandy. These are thrill inducing creatures and I am glad I was able to communicate this to you. Hugs to you my friend ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
OMG!!
WHAT A STUNNING CREATURE!!!!
Thank you, Cindy! These bears may be the head of our survival.
I sense a poem…
I’m not a poet… Polar Bear with me! 3
I’ll write one!
Please,
come polar bear,
with me,
and we shall be,
happy and free ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
Okay!!! xo
<3
Wonderful photographs, Cindy! And thanks for sharing this and making me smile! 😊
Thank you for making me smile ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
😊
You bring us good (much needed) news! Heartening!
Boy, do we ever need good news in a world so filled with tragedy. Thank you Eliza and hope you are well.
fascinating… seems so curious to see these healthy Polar Bears romping about in the greenery! I guess I’ve only seen them on ice and snow and, well… polar scenery. How soon will the Bay freeze and has that changed a lot in recent years?
I am surprised and pleased to see so many happy healthy bears. I haven’t seen any starving bears, but I have also seen a very small n of the total population estimated to be around 900. Their numbers are declining and here is a link to an article about global warming in Hudson Bay:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/14/canada-hudson-bay-climate-change-study-warm-temperatures
Just amazing- thanks so much for this very interesting article about this ironic situation, Cindy!
You are most welcome. It is ironic isn’t it.
Wow! Just fantastic!
I <3 people who <3 ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ s! Thank you.
😊😊😊
So special!
Precious, come to mind. Oh, and heartwarming!
Ahhh, thank you. You make me happy I posted them. Cheers to you my friend. ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
Polar bears in a green environment – interesting contrast. And the scenes are just adorable.
They seem to love rolling around on the tundra for a change, but when the temp reaches around 50F, they start to pant, and go for a swim.
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Lovely pictures of a polar bear mother and her cub playing at The Hudson Bay taken by Cindy Knoke.
The ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ s and I thank you Patricia <3
Love them!!! Great pictures and they look like they are having so much fun! Thank you for making me smile tonight!
Your comment makes me happy I posted. <3 ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
WOWZA!!! What an amazing and wonderful thing to observe and photograph! They’re beautiful, silly, and real. Thank you for sharing your amazing experience and time there with us. Wow! Just WOW!
Ahhhh, so kind. I so appreciate people who care for our wild creatures. I just feel thrilled to be in their presence. ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ <3
What a beautiful scene 😊
They are just a thrill to see every time.
What an amazing privilege to be able to see polar bears! (One, unfortunately, that is going to get much rarer in the future.)
What great photos. I am not used to seeing pictures of polar bears on grass. Nice to see them looking so well.
It seems incongruous doesn’t it. I can tell they love rolling around on the tundra, but when the temp starts to get a bit too warm for their taste, they pant and go swim in the bay where the belugas tease them!
it is a question that I ask myself. You must have a very powerful lens to have taken such photographs without being within a few meters of them
Yes, I am hampered a bit by very conservative viewing distances. They are important though as they protect the bears from unwise humans.
Magical moment !
Yes! These are magical creatures <3
Toujours de beaux clichés animaliers, celui-ci nous incitera à porter encore plus d’attention au réchauffement climatique, dont les ours blancs seront probablement les premiers à payer l’addition.
Je vous remercie. Je suis d’accord avec toi. Nous devons protéger notre planète de ses belles créatures contre nous-mêmes. ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
Beautiful.
Grazie mille.
Cindy, what wonderful photos!
Ahh, thank you Sheree <3
Oh, I love this!!!! Wonderful photos of this amazing being! 🙂 🙂 xoxo
I <3 people who <3 ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ s!
❤ 🙂 🙂 🙂 ❤
How wonderful to see this!
I feel just the same. These magnificent creatures deserve our protection ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
I wouldn´t like to be on the receiving end of that play.
They are truly magestic creatures. And you…..na, just strolling next to them telling them ¨smile¨and ¨roll over¨ click click with the camera…..
I don´t know why I watched a lot of documentaries about these bears, these ones the other ones , lieons, e.t.c really, but these creatures as I say are truly magestic. Nice capturing them playing, very rare. Great job.
I see them just as you do Charly. They are magnificent. They are the top predators here, but now the grizzlies are moving into their territory, and dominating them, which surprises me as grizzlies are smaller. I wonder if the grizzlies have the advantage in spring through fall, and the polar bears dominate in the winter, when the grizzlies and less able to camouflage themselves against the winter white. Both are stealth hunters so not being seen is a big advantage.
That makes makes sense
Wonderful. What is the best time of year to see them?
In June the birds are here enmass. Towards late August most birds have left, but the polar bears are coming towards the shore waiting for freeze up, and there are thousands of beluga whales in the bay to play with. You can walk around with a guide, take boats out on the bay, and drive the unpaved roads looking for wildlife. The weather is also usually better and the aurora borealis can often be seen. In September and October, the bears and tourist mass, as freeze up is starting. It is cold. You can’t go out on the bay by boat and you have to transport around all day in a tundra buggy which is a bus specially designed for bear viewing. You will see more bears closer, but will be cooped up in a vehicle with less freedom and more tourists. IN August we drive around in a van with just ourselves, a guide, and a person from Italy and Spain. It has been perfect. My son went snorkeling in the bay in a drysuit and you can kayak with the belugas who love to play with you.
Lovely. Their affection is almost tangible.
It is incredibly moving isn’t it <3
That is so wonderful to see them playing in the green. I have only seen Polar Bears on ice. those playing is just so delightful and makes me happy!
Creatures that make us happy by watching their innocent play are precious indeed. Thank you my friend <3
die sind ja niedlich, wünsche dir einen guten Tag, Klaus
Alles Gute, mein Freund und vielen Dank ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
So beautiful to see them at play here. xxx
Watching them display such bonds of affection and commitment is incredibly moving <3
<3
Such beautiful and fascinating pictures. What a joy to behold! 😀 <3
All creatures great and small.
All creatures wise and wonderful.
<3 <3
Such precious moments! Thank you for capturing them Cindy ❤️
Mille grazie Val <3
What an incredible opportunity Cindy!
It is an experience of a lifetime <3
Wonderful photos! How cool that you got to see them. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you more for appreciating the ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ s!
Amazing!
They are <3
Great pictures Cindy! Always looking forward to seeing them. 🙂
Thank you Charlotte. You make me happy I posted ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
🙂
Watching this must have been such an incredible experience. Beautiful photographs – thank you for sharing with us!
Thank you more for appreciating the ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ s!
I have always wanted to go there – always. And there you are. Blessings to you and all those beautiful bears.
Oh I hope you do come up here. It is an experience of a lifetime. I actually recommend August. There are thousands of belugas who want to play with you and bears playing and enjoying themselves all around you. The ecosystem itself is a wonderland. Taking the train which is a two day trip would be an experience too, because you travel through all this unpopulated (by humans) habitat filled with lakes and ponds and wild ones.
Wow! There’s something that seems so startling about seeing polar bears against a green background because all of the documentaries always position them trudging along the ice. Incredible photos, as always.
Everything about polar bears is incongruous and I know just what you mean. Polar bear playing in the flowers is not an image we expect. But they are here now, about 900 of them.
Your photos captured the spirit of their love and play beautifully! I’m glad to know they’re still healthy and thriving in some areas like the Hudson Bay.
Thank you Brad. As we know, their safe zones are shrinking fast.
Sadly, yes.
My sample size is too small to say anything, but it surprised me that at least these bears are healthy.
Pictures like these make me sad. How long will we be able to see these magnificent animals anywhere else but in zoos? 🙁
They are so incredible and we are so harmful.
True!
With some reservation they look cute enough to cuddle. 🤗
It is incongruous isn’t it!
Fantastic! Hope we can see this animals still in hundred years, but I fear, the climate change does nothing good.
I share your fears <3
So cute…from a safe distance.
Amazing photos, Cindy. It’s wonderful to see such healthy, playful bears. I hope they continue that way.
Marvelous, must have been joyful to see such gorgeous and playful bears.
They are a continuing surprise and a wonder to behold.
Lovely pictures, Cindy
Thank you.
Reblogged this on Echoes in the Mist.
The bears and I thank you Sharon <3
So glad to hear these are healthy happy bears. They posed so well for their photo shoot. 🙂 So cute to see at play.
Thank you Joyce. I don’t think polar bears are usually posers, so it surprised me too. <3
Great shots, Cindy 😉
Thank you Rob.
🐾🐾❣️❣️
ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
Well said ❤️
Thank you.
Wow! Incredible!! What a treasure to be able to see them in the wild.
Thank you John.
The experience is up there with Antarctica, Africa and The Amazon.
It has this unreal component.
In Africa I walked off the plane, looked around, and thought, “Oh, my God,” and moved to get our rental car.
Antarctica is beyond the words of me, but someone else sailed us there.
Stepping off “Calm Air,” (aka Calamity Airlines,) I saw the first bears in under five minutes.
It was the same surreal feeling in all three places, but polar bears are special. They are the earth’s largest terrestrial predators, and they are magnificent
Such a wonderful sight, thank you for sharing, Cindy. 🙂
Thank you more for appreciating the ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ s Ally.
Such a pleasure, Cindy! 🙂
Happy you enjoyed the ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ s!
How very wonderful – and so well photographed
Ah, thank you Derrick & happy weekend my friend <3
X
Cindy, thank you for these beautiful photographs!
Thank you Charles for support these amazing ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ & cheers to you my friend <3
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Here is another set of beautiful photographs from Cindy Knoke!
Beautiful and heartwarming <3
I <3 people who <3 ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ s!
What absolutely gorgeous photos – I assume from a very powerful telephoto lens!
Yes. The viewing distance is so safe it does negatively affect the photos, but it protects me, and it protects the polar bears who are endangered by people who get too close for better shots.
Many, many thanks for the fabulous photographs. Cheers. x
Cheers and thank you for the kind appreciation <3
Wonderful pictures, polar bears are beautiful creatures. You are truly lucky to have the opportunity to see these beautiful scenes and capture them.
Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Thank you for appreciating the ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้ s!
My absolute pleasure.
Cheers to you <3
💐🌸🙏🏻
ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
Gee, only 369 Likes. LOL!!!!!! xoxo
I am shamelessly riding on the polar bears short but powerful tail of popularity. There is something seriously wrong with someone who doesn’t love a polar bear. The people in Churchill, who know them best, love and respect them. Every house, has a least one artistic polar bear rendering on prominent display, most have more than one.
Fabulous! They are beautiful creatures of earth, and like most have been short changed by man. Churchillians must be a lot closer to nature than many.
People in Churchill are very friendly, helpful and impressive. They live in the most unique place, in the midst of this vast and stark tundra, next to the massive Hudson Bay which is really like a sea, and of course they share the place with so many polar bears. I listened to a lecture by this young local Cree girl at The Churchill library and learned so much from her. The ties and family bonds going down through the generations in her culture is so impressive to me. And there is a local Eskimo museum. The relocation of the Sayisi Dene people here and the effect on their culture was heartbreaking to see and read about, and the museum had this huge collection of incredible Inuit art and artifacts. Whenever I visit the arctic, I am just blown away with the people who lived for thousands of years in such harsh environments, didn’t destroy their territory, and survived, until the Europeans arrived.
So endearing. Who wouldn’t love these two (from afar)?
Indeed. Like all wild creatures we need to respect their space, and with these guys, I respect LOTS of their space!!!
Wow! Those are quite the sight! I’m glad to see any of them doing reasonably well. Such delightful play between them. We could take some lessons.
Always, we are missing the lessons we should learn from watching birds and wild animals. They tell us how to live, and what is important.
You are so right. Nature is our Mother and Mothers teach us all we need to know.
<3 <3
Always beautiful, Cindy. They must have been breathtaking to see in real life.
They are just spectacular. They seem like more remote, white, grizzlies, and they eat all sorts of stuff, grass, berries, et al, which seemed so logical to me, since grizzlies do the same thing, all the time. Grizzlies eat lots of plants, lots of the time. Maybe the reason the polar bears in Hudson Bay are doing slightly better than polar bears in Norway and further north, is they have summer grazing with plants and such, and are not utterly dependent on seals.
Cindy, what a magical sight to behold and thank you for sharing with us here! 😀 It is wonderful to see them so playful and affectionate with each other, looking incredibly healthy and happy. I always feel for the polar bears in zoos, even in the better ones, they always seem sad and unwell. Amazing personable photos! Can’t wait for the next post! Xx
Polar Bears in zoos are sad sights, especially in San Diego where it is so hot. They put chunks of ice in the outdoor exhibits in the summer but now that I have learned how polar bear skin and fur generates heat, I feel especially bad for them. Polar Bears are marine mammals made for arctic seas.
Oh my goodness, they are so majestic and at the same time so adorable! And as usual your photography is fantastic, Cindy, I’m enjoying looking at their play, in the idyllic scenery, and their fascinating facial expressions. Thanks for these! Cheers 🙂
Ahhh, makes me happy I posted Halim. Thank you. They just are incredibly fascinating creatures to watch. We watched a big male swim in Hudson Bay in a zodiac. Just incredible, and so much more bear behavior, including a mom and cub sharing a kill. I will post more photos soon and am happy you enjoyed. Thank care my friend ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
Wow, what an awesome sighting! I’m so happy that you’re able to visit the arctic – that’s one of the regions I’ve long wanted to travel to.
I hope you go, and then you will want to go back. It draws you back once you go, and it leaves a lasting impression. I remember reading “Arctic Dreams,” by Barry Lopez” many years ago, when I first went to Alaska. He captures the magic perfectly. You might like the book.
I think I will like the book; I’ll look it up! When I was a kid my favorite book was about a biologist who lived on Ellesmere Island studying arctic wolves; I read it over and over! The pictures of the landscape were mesmerizing.
Ellesmere Island is in Nunavut, if I am not wrong. Nunavut is just a northern dream, waiting for us to go there.
Phantastic!!!
Grazie ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
No snow? I hope that you at a healthy distance with binoculars and telephoto lens. I am reminded of kayaking on Kodiak Island some years ago, when a mother-cub were walking along the beach. They passed over a burn and disappeared behind it. The guide pulled us up the shore & told ME to hop out to get a photo when they appeared again. Yikes! The burn was only 40 feet from the water… what if they came back toward me. Fortunately, and maybe the guide knew their path, they showed up on the hillside for some great shots (very limited telephone lens at the time). – Oscar
Wow. That clearly raised your blood pressure. I do not like encountering grizzlies unexpectedly on trails, scares the beejeezus out of me, but I do love observing them at a safe distance, same with polar bears. It protects me and the bears. I so wanted to walk to the birds in Churchill in the ponds by the old port. There were dancing sandhill cranes there, but I didn’t, I asked our guide if I should and she said no. I asked a young local Cree girl what she thought. She told me it should be okay, she had walked there and it was okay, her brother walked there though and got chased by bear, but it was okay, because someone saw this and fired some crackle shots and scared the bear away. I decided to let the cranes dance without me.
Pingback: CREATIVE Blogger Award – Simply Splendid Food
Awww, I am honored by your kindness. Thank you and congratulations on your most well deserved award <3
Last week or so we had us a black bear in the city. Thankfully they got him and took him to a safe release place!
Poor bear. Must have been frightening for him.
Yes, I think so.
<3 <3
Wonderful to see them so healthy and funny playing. Thank you very much for this very positive posting in times of climate chance issues, Cindy! Have a beautiful weekend! Michael
Thank you and yes, it is uplifting to see healthy happy bears ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
🙏
What happy and healthy ice bears. I do hope that these will not be the last one on earth…
It is wonderful to see healthy bears and they need our protection. Some polar bear populations are decreasing, some increasing, some are stable. I am super careful with stats because my husband is a statistician and I know how misleading they can be, but check this out if you are interested:
https://arcticwwf.org/species/polar-bear/population/
Amazing photos Cindy. How close to them for you get?
I am bad at distance but my husband says 100 yards, but we were in a mini-van. These photos were mostly shot at full zoom which is 1200mm equivalent.
Wow, what an amazing experience Cindy. I am in awe of your wonderful photography. 🙂 x
I am in awe of your kindness in saying this to me. Thank you <3
Aww. <3 xxx
ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
Sorta makes you want to just rub their bellies and pet them 🤔, …, or not 😄😉. Hugs, Cuz
Laughing….looks are deceiving. They heads remind me of leopard seals and leopard seals hunting penguins was one of the scariest things I’ve seen. I have photos of polar bears opening their mouth wide. Their mouths are HUGE, just like leopard seals. It almost looks like they could swallow a seal whole.
Wow! These are beautiful. Are they at a park?
Thank you and no, these are wild bears photographed near Churchill Manitoba and I have more photos of different bears including a big male swimming in Hudson Bay.
Great. That is awsome.
A really beautiful series. And the bears are really cute.
oh, thank you, very much. I am happy you like them.
Wonderful post and images, Cindy. For a second (millisecond) I thought you were posting for the “Precious Pets” theme this week on Lens-Artists!! How did you get so close to these amazing creatures? 200mm lens or longer?
So happy you enjoyed and thank you! I shot mostly at full zoom, 1200mm equivalent.
Wow.
That is exactly what I felt when I see them. <3
Great photos and post. I can observe them this way and not up close and personal. Thank you.
Thank you Mary & be well <3
I am so glad you found your polar bears, Cindy. I fancy you would like to be in there wrestling with them!
It definitely would not be zero sum game. There would be a clear winner and loser.
A visual treat. 🌾
Grazie.
dann möchte ich uns einen guten Start wünschen, Klaus
Vielen dank mein lieber Freund <3
alles klar, beste Grüße
<3 <3
Shared! Thank you! Great pics
Thank you more.
Stunning photos and wonderful to see that these guys are still happy and healthy. Just one question though, how on earth did you manage to take these photos? A little close for comfort, no?
I had a scrupulous guide, she would not let me go as close as I wished. The photos were taken with with 1200mm zoom.
Oh! That’s a relief. Shows how much I know about cameras. They really are lovely photos. 🙂
<3 <3
What marvelous, happy pictures, Cindy. It gives one a sense of hope. Hugs on the wing!
Your hope if real. Hang on to it <3
Wow, how did you capture those photos without getting so close? Magic telescopic lens? They look so happy as though there was nothing in the world to worry about. Huh, the life of a bear. 🙂 xx
Hug the life of you sweet lady <3
<3 <3
Wow This is unreal! Thanks for sharing and look forward for your next post. I love polar bear 🙂 great pictures
:Your work takes my breath away. What a joy!!
Your comment just made my <3 smile. Thank you sincerely 🐬
I’m thrilled to see such gorgeous polar bear with a rating of four. Smashing photos, Cindy!
The shots are stunning, Cindy! Wow!! Thanks so much for sharing…I just love your work! Hope you are well🌝
Aww, thank you Lorrie. So kind and so appreciated <3
Such gorgeous photos. Love the bears – I am quite jealous! Maybe we should plan a trip to Hudson Bay.
Alison
Oh please do!! And tell me what you’ll do. We have just gotten home. It is lots of flights to get there from SoCal, but I am already kinda thinking, return in early June sometime? The birds are there enmass….laughing. This is what travel does to me. It makes me go back to exceptional places. I know you have the exact same wonderful itch.
Truly fascinating. Long live the polar bears!
Viva los polars!!! <3
Your stellar photos evoke tremendous response. You really captured the affection. Really makes my day and so happy they score fours.
Love to you Ruth for loving these magnificent creatures <3
Wondering how close you were to Mama and cub! You certainly know how to get great shots. It’s so awful that these magnificent bears are under so much pressure. They need space and ice and not to be at risk of starving. Am relieved Hudson Bay bears are in good shape even if numbers are down.
I shot them at maximum 1200 zoom. If I was closer, like others are, the photos would be better. I respected our guide because she cared more about the bears than my photos. There are some populations of bears that are actually doing well. In Hudson Bay, prolonged hunting drove the numbers perilously down. Since the hunting has been significantly limited, the bears are rallying.
I think the photos are really clear and capture the bears well. It is good to have concerned guides and a balancing act as being close to these animals certainly helps with inspiring us to protect them.
Yes. Agreed. A photo is not anywhere near as important as a magnificent bear <3
Awww… they are so cute, from afar!
They look benign don’t they, but looks are deceiving <3
Indeed!
This really cheered me to see! Thank you for posting these gorgeous photos of healthy bears.
You are most welcome. We have seen many healthy bears which is most encouraging. ʕ•ᴥ•ʔゝ☆
This must have been grand, to see them play in real life.
You are right to notice that the reason the polar bears in Hudson Bay might be doing slightly better than polar bears in Norway and further north, is that they have summer grazing with plants and such, and are not utterly dependent on seals, whilst here at the European continent there is not so much green for them, and often the ice plates are not strong enough any more to bear them or are too far away so that they have to swim to far.
Thanks for showing us that beautiful world of them,
Marcus
Yes. You know the facts. They also eat birds in The Hudson Bay. There are many millions of geese here. I have photos of them eating a kill. The population in the bay is doing far better than it was decades ago when so many were shot and the numbers were dramatically down.
This is special, Cindy. And gorgeous.
You are very kind & most appreciated <3 ก็็็็็็็็็็็็็ʕ•͡ᴥ•ʔ ก้้้้้้้้้้้
Lovely pics, thanks a lot for sharing!
Thank you more for appreciating the (•͡ᴥ•)’s!
Awesome!!
Grazie mille (•͡ᴥ•)
Just beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you more for appreciating the (•͡ᴥ•)’s!
What a magnificent sight it would have been to see them playing with each other! Wonderful pictures!!!
Thank you. They are wonderful creatures and they were so happy with each other. We could learn so much from them on what is important.
I love your blog so much. Every time I get to visit, you make my heart soar. Awestruck. Thank you Cindy. ♥.
You just made my <3 soar! Thank you for such lovely kindness and cheers to you.
=) You are most welcome. ♥.
<3
Wonderful images so clear, and its so good to know the numbers are rising again.. Lets hope these beautiful bears succeed and survive in their natural habitat…
Loved seeing them at play 🙂
Incredible joy to see wild bears at play. I have now seen wild grizzly cubs play and these polar bears. It makes you think of Eden and an untroubled world.
As always your images are superb, Cindy those bears look very healthy and happy which is good to see..Thank you for following my blog 🙂 x
I love your blog! I have no idea how I got unfollowed from it. I always thought I was following. It must have happened inadvertently. All’s well that ends well <3
WP gremlins , Cindy… happy you are here… 💞🎉🎉🎉
Visa versa 2UX2 <3
Bonjour Mon AMIE CINDY très joli ces ours blancs
Comment trouver le bonheur
https://i.postimg.cc/HxzNKN3v/bonheur.jpg
Surtout
Ne le cherche pas le bonheur dans tes souvenirs
Cela te ferait beaucoup plus de mal
Tu retrouverais les bons ainsi que les mauvais
Si tu veux trouver le bonheur
Cherche le dans le présent
C’est seulement là qu’ il t’attend et là tu éviteras ceux qui peuvent te faire du mal
Alors vit ton bonheur dans ce présent
Belle semaine à toi , tes proches tes amies
Pour toi une partie de mon bonheur
Bisous Bernard
Merci beaucoup mon ami Bernard!
Awww….they are so precious! Wonderful photos, Cindy!
Thank you. They are stunning creatures aren’t they <3
You’re welcome! And yes, they are!
Reblogged this on LIVING THE DREAM.
Thank you my polar bear friend <3
Just incredible, and your photos are amazing. You and the polar bears have made my day!
You just made mine <3
Amazing, so happy to see these healthy, happy bears and incredible images!
Happy Polar Bears = happy people who <3 bears! Thank you.