Photographer Snaps Extraordinary Pics Of Bear Cubs Dancing In A Circle

Before they become gigantic murder machines, bear cubs are these cute, ungainly, cat-sized beasts. Like, you shouldn't approach them because their mom would rip your face off. But that doesn't mean you don't want to.

Valtteri Mulkahainen, who can be found on Instagram @valtterimulkhahainen, is a Finnish photographer who came across a family of bears in the remote wilderness outside Martinselkonen, Finland.

Mulkahainen came across a family of bears: a mother and her three cubs. He was able to stay undetected, which is definitely a good thing, as mother bears can get pretty aggressive.

The sequence of pics captures the family in different states. Most show the cubs acting as their mom's shadow, sticking close to her for safety. But some are a little different.

"The cubs behaved like little children," explained Mulkahainen. "They were playing, and even started a few friendly fights. I felt like I was on a playground in front of my house, where small children frolic around."

"At one point, the three of them got up on their hind legs and started pushing each other. It was like they were dancing in a circle. I photographed the cubs with the bear all evening and all night," he said.

Safely in his shelter 164 feet away, Mulkahainen kept snapping as the cubs had their little dance party. Bears can easily stand on their hind legs, but seeing them have a dance-off is unusual.

No video exists, but the high-quality photos do a good job of telling the story. This standing dance thing seems to be a favorite pastime for these bear siblings.

In a few months, these cubs will go their own ways as young adults. But in the meantime, their sibling bond persists.

Be sure to share your stories of unusual and/or adorable wild animal sightings in the comments section! h/t: Valtteri Mulkahainen (@valtterimulkahainen on Instagram)