In a delightful scene captured in Alaska’s Lark Clark National Park, a mother brown bear gave one of her young cubs a ride across a river.
The three-year-old cub, apparently not a fan of the water, jumped onto her mother’s back mid-stream, clinging to her as she waded through.
Photographer Renee Doyle, who captured the touching moment, observed the mother bear and her two cubs as they moved through the park in search of food.
“The mothers and their cubs roam through the park, grazing on grasses, eating berries, and even heading to the mudflats at low tide for clams,” explained Doyle, 52, from Queensland, Australia. Her photographs showcase not only the beauty of these animals in their natural habitat but also the close-knit bond between mother and cubs.
Doyle noted that the mother bear often stood up, an action that typically signals concern or vigilance. “She stopped by a small creek, took a drink, and her cubs, always nearby, followed,” said Doyle. “We thought they’d continue on land, so it was surprising when she entered the creek.”
As the water reached up to the mother bear’s back, one cub hesitated, then quickly swam to her side, choosing to climb onto her for the rest of the crossing.
Once they reached the other side, the cub slid off and shook itself dry, ready to continue the adventure.
Doyle describes the experience of watching these animals up close as “amazing and thrilling.” She added, “The love and care a mother bear shows her cubs is inspiring, a beautiful reminder of the bonds in nature.”
