Incredible photos by a British photographer capture two enormous polar bears as they play-fight – before calling it a day and hugging it out moments later.
The remarkable encounter between two of the world’s most fierce predators shows the bears square up to each other and grip each other in a bear hug.
After a few hearty swings and clashes, the two ‘foes’ both seem to start convulsing with laughter, with one even placing a friendly paw on the other’s shoulder.
That’s my fish!: Two bears, each weighing over half a tonne, start what looks like a vicious clash on the ice in Churchill, Canada
The bears look like they’re running out of steam for the play brawl and moving into a more friendly stage of the day
No hard feelings!: The hours long clash ends with the duo offering each other a friendly pat on the back and a smile
The hilarious coming together was snapped by Leicestershire photographer, Danny Green, 47, in the polar bear hub of Churchill, Canada – a small town located on the shores of Hudson Bay.
After years of travelling to polar regions capturing some of the planet’s most elusive creatures, Green was enthralled by the spectacle of the massive bears play-fighting as they waited for the sea ice to reform, allowing them to hunt.
‘Churchill is really the only place on Earth where this happens,’ said Danny.
‘These bears were just play-fighting and even look like they’re laughing in some of the shots. I guess it’s just sparring, preparing themselves for any lethal fights that they may face over winter, especially against similar sized opponents.
‘It was very funny to watch, these two deadly animals rolling around with each other. On other occasions, I’ve even seen bears ‘tag’ others in and the fight continue. It seems everyone knows to pull their punches though, I’ve never seen any serious injuries.’
‘The bears, who are generally solitary animals, are all forced to congregate together at this time of year as they wait for the sea ice to reform so they can go out and hunt seals.
‘Occasionally tempers flare and a fight breaks out.
‘This brawl probably lasted for a couple of hours, with a few breaks.’
The deadly predators appear to be wrestling each other. Photographer Danny Green, 47, said that he rarely sees serious fights among the polar bears
I’ve had enough!: Green said the bears he photographs are already on the brink of starvation due to climate change
All out of gas!: The bears can be seen relaxing after their bout. Green said the bears will playfight to prepare themselves for lethal fights they may experience over the Winter
Although fascinating Green, who has been a wildlife photographer for 30 years, says there is a darker message behind his humorous shots.
‘Every year I head out I see the ice melting earlier in the spring, and taking longer to form in the autumn,’ said Green.
‘Bears are already on the brink of starvation so losing an extra few weeks to their already limited feeding season is a concern.
Bears are usually solitary animals but they are forced together at this time of the year to await the reformation of the ice so they can hunt
Judo flip!: Green said: ‘On other occasions, I’ve even seen bears ‘tag’ others in and the fight continue. It seems everyone knows to pull their punches though, I’ve never seen any serious injuries’
‘I used to see female bears with two cubs all the time but now it’s usually just one, I wonder if they’re struggling to keep more than one alive.
‘Climate change is having an impact and its worse for bears than other creatures. Tigers for instance, their populations have been decimated by hunters and poachers but at least you can ringfence and protect a number of tigers to help sustain them as a species. You can’t ringfence ice if it’s already melted. It’s time that we as humans stop talking about climate change and start acting on it.
‘Polar bears need protecting. It’s gross that there are still people out there willing to shoot, or hunt a bear to be shot, for money. Governments need to get their heads together to face the issue or it’ll suddenly be too late.’
