Wapυsk National Park is more than just fascinating. The remote area on the western edge of Maitoba is impressive with its spectacular scenery and the variety of species that have found their homes in this harsh and hostile environment.
However, the place is both hostile and captivating, especially in February and March. From mid-February to mid-March, specifically, it is when the enormous female polar bears find their wayma of leaving the dens. But they are not alone, only with their adorable puppies of about four months.
For nature photographers, capturing these moments on camera is a dream come true, but to witness these scenes, you have to face some really tough weather conditions. The toughest, I would say. But for this passionate photographer, capturing a glimpse of a mother polar bear and her cubs was worth the sacrifice.
Niko Ambassador Daisy Gilardiпi not only traveled the long way to this frozen spot, but also had to wait more than 117 hours in extreme cold to take some photos with the mother polar bear and her newborn babies. In the end, it was all worth the effort, she said. However, it was far from easy!
“It is extremely difficult and rare to witness bears emerge from their burrows and you have to face extremely challenging conditions,” Gilardi said. “In these temperatures it is difficult to operate the camera because you need heavy gloves to keep your hands from freezing and the cold drains batteries very quickly.”
But after waiting so many hours in sub-zero temperatures (around 122°F), his efforts finally paid off and he got what he wanted. Over the next 10 to 12 hours, Gilardi had at least five different sightings of polar bear families.
“In the field, the most memorable episode is when we came across this resting mama bear with her two cubs during a day trip to the lake,” the experienced photographer shared. “She was extremely calm when our vehicle arrived at the scene and we were able to photograph her and the cubs for several hours before she again decided it was time to leave.”
The British Columbian photographer (originally from Sυiza) hopes her work will raise awareness among people about the impact we have on our planet.
“If humanity is to survive and evolve as our planet, we have to act responsibly,” he said. “We need to know that Nature does not depend on us, but we depend on Nature. Science is the brain and photography is the heart, and we need to reach the hearts and emotions of people to move them to action, for Nature and for us.”
More about this trip in the video below!
