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Polar Bears 3

An adult female polar bear and her triplets (about 2 years old) travel and hunt on the sea ice.

An adult female polar bear and her triplets (about 2 years old) travel and hunt on the sea ice.

It is very uncommon for all three triplets to survive to this age. Triplet litters are becoming increasingly rare due to the effects of climate change on adult female polar bears. Hudson Bay, Manitoba, Canada.

Twin polar bear cubs, about three months old, inside a snow den. Twin polar bear cubs, about three months old, inside a snow den. Twin polar bear cubs, about three months old, inside a snow den. Young polar bear cub, about 3-4 months old, sleeping with her head resting on her mother. Polar bear mother sheltering her twin cubs during a snowstorm. Polar bear mother and twin cubs sleeping curled closely together during a snowstorm. Polar bear mother sheltering her twin cubs during a snowstorm. Polar bear mother and twin cubs in a snowstorm. Young twin polar bear cubs mimic their mother's seal-hunting behavior as they play in the snow. Young twin polar bear cubs mimic their mother's seal-hunting behavior as they play in the snow. Young twin polar bear cubs mimic their mother's seal-hunting behavior as they play in the snow. A mother polar bear and her twin cubs (about 6 months old) at the edge of sea ice in a fjord. A confrontation on the sea ice between two adult female polar bears, each with twin cubs. The mother bear on the left, initiator of the confrontation, ultimately backed off and turned away, allowing the other family to pass. (Image one of three in a series.) A confrontation on the sea ice between two adult female polar bears, each with twin cubs. The mother bear on the left, initiator of the confrontation, ultimately backed off and turned away, allowing the other family to pass. (Image two of three in a series.) A confrontation on the sea ice between two adult female polar bears, each with twin cubs. The mother bear on the left, initiator of the confrontation, ultimately backed off and turned away, allowing the other family to pass. (Image three of three in a series.) A mother polar bear and her twin cubs (about 6 months old) at the edge of sea ice in a fjord. A polar bear mother and her twin two-year-old cubs resting on a floe of sea ice in heavy fog at twilight. A polar bear mother and her twin two-year-old cubs resting on a floe of sea ice in heavy fog at twilight. An adult female polar bear, followed by her twin two-year-old cubs, lunges violently toward an adult male who was following the family on the sea ice. Intimidated by her aggression, the male retreated. A polar bear mother and her cub travel together on the sea ice. An adult female polar bear and her triplets (about 2 years old) travel and hunt on the sea ice. A polar bear mother and her twin cubs travel together on the sea ice. A polar bear mother and her two-year-old cub travel together on the sea ice at sunset.