Polar bear cubs have fun tickle fight in Arctic snow

These polar bear cubs were almost tickled to death by their great play fight.

Adorable pictures show the bears appearing to have a fun tickle fight in the Arctic snow, rolling around and even showing toothy grins to each other.

After tumbling around in the snow and batting each other with giant paws, one bear eventually stood triumphantly over its sibling.

The two cubs were getting in some light-hearted practice during the play fight, but the skills they are honing will come in handy in serious territorial battles in the future.

Adorable pictures show the bears appearing to have a fun tickle fight in the snow, rolling around and even showing toothy grins to each other

After tumbling around in the snow and batting each other with giant paws, one bear eventually stood triumphantly over its sibling

After tumbling around in the snow and batting each other with giant paws, one bear eventually stood triumphantly over its sibling

The tickle fight was captured by a Russian second mate on the expedition ship ‘Polar Pioneer’ Alexey Seafarer, who spotted them north of the Spitsbergen archipelago.

In some of the pictures the animals are more or less hugging, while in others they seem to be scrapping heartily with each other on the ground. 

Alexey, 35, said: ‘Our job is to show the north off to tourists, so we especially searching for polar bears to show them. We were really lucky to find this mum and two cubs.

‘It doesn’t happen often that we come across a mum with cubs, so we were delighted. 

The two cubs were getting in some light-hearted practice during the play fight, but the skills they are honing will come in handy in serious territorial battles in the future

The two cubs were getting in some light-hearted practice during the play fight, but the skills they are honing will come in handy in serious territorial battles in the future

The tickle fight was captured by a Russian second mate on the expedition ship 'Polar Pioneer' Alexey Seafarer, who spotted them north of the Spitsbergen archipelago

The tickle fight was captured by a Russian second mate on the expedition ship ‘Polar Pioneer’ Alexey Seafarer, who spotted them north of the Spitsbergen archipelago

‘When we first saw them they were eating a seal together and then the cubs started to play. The mother was watching on. 

‘We were about 50 metres away from them, but the clear weather made photographing them very easy.

‘The mother glanced at us bit they did not take much notice of us. The bears don’t care about people much, and some of the younger ones will even come up close to sniff you because they are interested.

‘We try to stay out of the way as much as possible.’

In some of the pictures the animals are more or less hugging, while in others they seem to be scrapping heartily with each other on the ground

Photographer Alexey Seafarer said the clear weather had made it easier to photograph the fight

In some of the pictures the animals are more or less hugging, while in others they seem to be scrapping heartily with each other on the ground

Photographer Alexey Seafarer said the bears' mother had been watching on after he had spotted them eating a seal together and then starting their fun play in the snow

Photographer Alexey Seafarer said the bears’ mother had been watching on after he had spotted them eating a seal together and then starting their fun play in the snow



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