17th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Bear cubs in Lake Kuril

Lake Kuril in Kamchatka is home to a large, but rapidly declining, brown bear population. These two cubs were playing near the water as their mother was fishing in the lake. Their attention was drawn to a large male slowly approaching behind me and they were on high alert until it moved in another direction. Grown males may attack the cubs if they are far from their mother's protective zone.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2019
Date Uploaded: 11.2019
Photo Location: Russia
Camera: NIKON D7500
Copyright: © Arie Katz