Valtteri Mulkahainen, a devoted physical education instructor from Sotkamo, Finland, has developed a deep appreciation for wildlife photography over the years. He has spent six extraordinary years photographing Finland’s magnificent wildlife and capturing the enchantment of the natural world. This is the account of an unforgettable experience.
Valtteri embarked on an expedition into the Finnish taiga near Martinselkonen on June 3, 2013, a memorable day. As he immersed himself in the wilderness, he witnessed an entrancing scene. A brown bear with a few young cubs in tow entered a clearing.
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“The bear cubs behaved like little children,” Valtteri told Bored Panda. “They were playing and engaged in several friendly battles. I felt as though I were on a playground in front of my residence, where young children play. These endearing animals reminded me so much of young children. At one point, they all stood on their hind legs and began to shove each other. They appeared to be dancing in a circle.”
Valtteri’s 50-meter (164-foot) distance from this heartwarming bear cub spectacle provided him with an optimal vantage point. “I photographed the cubs with the mother bear all evening and night,” he said.
With the exception of the archipelago Islands, encounters with bears are quite common in Finland, as these majestic animals inhabit various regions of the country. Although they predominantly inhabit eastern Finland and Lapland, bears are frequently spotted in the south and west.
However, the most remarkable aspect of Valtteri’s experience is his ability to capture such extraordinary images of this bear family. Bears avoid human contact at all costs and are rarely spotted in the open, retreating swiftly upon detecting our presence. Their acute senses and discreet movements make them hide-and-seek experts.
According to the most recent estimates of the Finnish Natural Resources Institute, there were between 2020 and 2130 bears in Finland’s wilderness before the 2019 hunting season, a testament to their resilience and vitality.
