BEHIND THE SCENE

Over the years, I must have spent hundreds of hours watching brown, black and polar bears’ parenting habits. Polar bear mothers are among the most affectionate and protective of all of them, especially when they only have one cub.

This is probably due to the extreme environment cubs have to face when they exit their maternity dens for the first time, usually when they’re about three months old. Polar bear moms engage and play with a single cub more often, as there are no siblings to demand her attention.