Polar bears take one final frolic in the water before their world turns to ice

These polar bear cubs made the most of their final splash in the sea before the water turns to ice and they head north to begin their search for food.



Wildlife photographer, Jon Cornforth, 39, from Seattle, was lucky enough to capture the heart-warming sight while guiding a group of photography students in Martyr Island in north Alaska.

The water which will become ice in a matter of days provided the ideal way for 23 mother and cub polar bears to 'cool' down on a three degree Celsius beach at the end of an Arctic Indian Summer.



Brrr-illiant fun: Two polar bear cubs play in the Arctic Ocean at Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The bears made the most of the water before it begins to turn to ice and they are forced to head north for food

Mr Cornforth said: 'This is their time to play before the ice comes and they have to start seriously looking for food,

'This area was like a nursery where mothers and their babies were hanging out all day.



'We didn't see any males in this area - which meant it was a really relaxed atmosphere.

Play fight: The temperatures in the arctic were unusually warm this year - with scientists recording the greatest ice melt in modern history. The cold, which would be fatal to humans seems balmy to polar bears

Making a splash: The water which will become ice in a matter of days provided an ideal way for 23 mother and cub polar bears to 'cool' down on a three degree Celsius beach at the end of an Arctic Indian Summer

'The mums tolerated each other and the babies of different families played freely together.



'They wouldn't usually get this chance to socialise on the ice.'



The temperatures in the arctic were unusually warm this year - with scientists recording the greatest ice melt in modern history.



Cold as ice: Polar bears have been tracked by scientists swimming up to three hundred miles. Playing in the water is important in teaching them how to swim from a young age

Play date: The lack of males resulted in a more relaxed atmosphere allowing the polar bear mothers to let their cubs play freely with cubs from other families

Because of their huge reserves of fat and dense fur, temperatures that would be lethal to humans can seem balmy to polar bears.



'What many people don't realise about polar bears is how far they are in fact marine mammals,'. said Mr Cornforth.

He added: 'They have been tracked by scientists swimming up to three hundred miles.



'As the sea ice melts they have to make use of this skill more and more.



'The play we see in the pictures is important in teaching them how to swim from a young age.'

