
These captivating images show a polar bear cub exploring the outside world for the very first time.

After spending three months with its mother in a den that she had dug out of the snow, the cub is now getting ready to learn to hunt.

Photographers Andre and Anita Gilden, both 54, waited for five days outside the den in temperatures dropping to minus 40 degrees Celsius to catch the beautiful moment in Manitoba, Canada.

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Come along: The adorable polar bear cub has a good look around after emerging from its den for the first time

Rise and shine: The mother bear keeps a close eye on her cub as he takes his first tentative steps across the ice

The cute cub clearly has a lot to learn about surviving in the wild but his mother was on hand throughout to teach him.

Andre, 54, said: 'When we arrived there were no paw prints around the den so we knew we would be catching the mother coming out with her cub for the first time.

'It was incredible - the little one still has a long way to go but his mother will be keeping a close eye on him.

'When we found the den only breath was coming out and there were no tracks around it.

'With the wind chill it felt like it was minus 80 degrees.'

Safe and sound: The bears stay near their dens for around 12 days before trekking to the sea ice to hunt

Out you come: The cub seems a little tentative as his mother tries to coax him out of the den

After spending three months underground the mother polar bear shows her cub the outside world for the first time

Clean-up: The polar bear cub gets a tender lick from his doting mother

The bears stay near their dens for around 12 days before trekking to the sea ice to hunt.

The cub, which already weighed around 10-15kg, needed to acclimatize to the paw-numbing cold, build its strength and get used to walking on the snow.

The photos were taken in 2014 but Andre is releasing them now to encourage people to back polar bear conservation efforts.

Andre added: 'It used to be common to see mothers with three cubs but their numbers are declining.

'We wanted to release these pictures to show how beautiful the bears can be and hopefully inspire people to help protect these amazing creatures.'

Photographers Andre and Anita Gilden, both 54, waited for five days outside the den in temperatures dropping to minus 40 to catch the beautiful moment

Heads up: The curious little cub stands up on his hind leg to get a good look at the photographers

Poking around: Mother and cub explore the area. The cub already weighs between 10 to 15 kilos

Playtime: The adorable cub enjoys a refreshing roll about in the crisp Canadian snow

Don't mess: The mother bear shows off a fearsome set off claws as she leads her cub across the ice

Lean on me: According to photographer Andre Gilden It used to be common to see mothers with three cubs but their numbers are declining

Shakedown: The mother bear freshens up after five months inside the den