You know that moment when you find yourself in nature, and everything seems to align perfectly to give you an unforgettable experience? That’s exactly what happened to Valtteri Mulkahainen, a sports teacher from Sotkamo, Finland, and a wildlife photography enthusiast. His life is a fascinating mix of sports lessons and precious moments spent capturing the wild beauty of Finland. And believe me, he had an adventure that seems to come straight out of a fairy tale.
An Enchanted Discovery
A few years ago, Valtteri decided to explore the mysteries of Martinselkonen, a Finnish town that hides breathtaking nature. As he was going deep into a dense forest, he was lucky enough to come across a family of brown bears: a mother bear and her three adorable cubs.
Picture the scene: bear cubs playing like children in a garden, squabbling in a friendly manner and standing on their hind legs to nudge each other. Valtteri described the scene as a spectacle, almost as if he were watching children in a park. “The bear cubs were acting like little children… I felt like I was in a playground in front of my house,” he shared with a smile.
An unforgettable experience
He was about 50 meters away from this happy group, which allowed him to capture spectacular photos without disturbing them. He spent the entire evening and part of the night observing and photographing these fascinating creatures. The photos show the bear cubs rubbing, rolling and playing in the clearing, as if they had been staged for an animal fashion show.
Bears, although common in Finland, are often difficult to spot because of their natural tendency to avoid humans. Valtteri had the rare chance to see these creatures in their natural habitat, far from crowds and human disturbances.
Nature at its best
Brown bears, which are found mainly in the eastern part of Finland, but also in the south and west, are incredibly versatile animals. Not only are they skilled hunters, they are also adept swimmers and climbers. You could say that they are the perfect example of the phrase “all-in-one”. Did you know that they can run at speeds of 40 km/h, or that they can swim long distances to find food?
Valtteri’s encounter with this bear family is a true gift from nature. His photos are a testament to the beauty and joy that can be found in the most remote corners of our planet. And you know what? Sometimes, these magical moments remind us how important it is to preserve these wild spaces and respect the creatures that live there.
Finally, this encounter with the brown bears is a wonderful reminder that nature, with all its splendor and mysteries, is always there to offer us surprises.