A rare silver-furred bear cub has become the surprise star of a wildlife livestream after being caught on camera alongside its mother.
The youngster’s striking pale coat has left viewers doing a double take as it explores a national park.
Footage shows the tiny bear sitting in the grass, wandering about and stopping for a huge yawn as its mother keeps watch nearby.
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The unusual colouring has sparked speculation online, with some viewers wondering whether the cub could be a “pizzly” – a hybrid between a polar bear and a grizzly, as reported by Whats The Jam.
But experts say there is a much simpler explanation.
Katmai National Park and Preserve ranger Sarah Bruce, in Alaska, said the cub’s silvery appearance is down to its genetics, with brown bears in the area known to have a wide range of coat colours.
Despite the polar-looking fur, there is no evidence the youngster is a hybrid.
The area is home to brown bears rather than polar bears, which do not naturally roam this far south.
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The cub was spotted alongside its mother, Bear 677, who is considered relatively elusive compared with some of the more famous bears regularly appearing on the cameras.
It was first spotted on 23 June, when it was believed to be around six months old, and has since gone viral.
The cub’s sex is not yet known.
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Park staff have also moved away from giving bears individual names, instead using identification numbers to keep track of them.
Experts say its unusual colouring is not expected to put it at any particular disadvantage, as bears do not rely heavily on camouflage to survive.
The livestreams have become hugely popular online, particularly during the annual Fat Bear Week competition, when viewers vote for the bear they think has put on the most impressive amount of weight.
But the cameras also show the harsher side of life in the wild.
Two bear cubs have recently died in separate incidents involving unrelated adult female bears.
One was killed and eaten by another bear, while another was attacked after following unrelated cubs up a tree.
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