A family of polar bears take a break during a long trek in -40C temperatures.
One playfully stands up on its hind legs as they take a breather.
Another of the trio then relaxed against a rock before they set off again.
British photographer Stephen Dean was able to take the stunning snaps.
It comes ahead of International Polar Bear Day tomorrow (27 Feb)
He spotted the bears on the shore of Hudson Bay – which is north of Churchill, Canada.
READ MORE: Bug-eyed cat goes viral thanks to uncanny resemblance to actor Emma Stone
The 44-year-old said the polar bears didn’t stay for long before they continued their journey.
Stephen, of Chalfont St Giles, Bucks, told What’s The Jam: “Apart from being cold, I felt incredibly lucky to be able to be in the presence of polar bears.
”It was amazing to be somewhere so remote and away from most of the modern trappings of life.
“With polar bears migrating through the area as they have done presumably for centuries.
”However, it was also sad to think that with climate change life was becoming so much harder for the bears.
“With the sea ice on which they depend for hunting seals melting earlier each year and then forming later.
“The camp I was staying in was on the migration route for the bears.
”The bears that passed through showed some curiosity at our camp and the strange humans standing around watching them.
”However, essentially the bears in these images were just passing through our location and mostly did not stay for long.”
READ MORE: ‘Selfie dog’ born with own self-portrait on her EAR
