Valtteri Mulkahainen is a teacher in Sotkamo, Finland. He loves taking pictures of nature, especially the animals that live in his country. For six years, he’s been lucky enough to catch beautiful moments of wildlife on camera.
One summer day, on June 3rd, 2013, Valtteri went out to explore the forests around Martinselkonen. While he was walking, something amazing happened. A bear appeared, and she was not alone. She had her cubs with her.
Valtteri watched in awe as the little cubs played, just like children. They tumbled around, chasing each other and laughing in their own way. Sometimes, they would stop and push each other, standing on their back legs, as if they were dancing in a circle. It reminded Valtteri of the children playing near his home.
He was hiding in a small shelter, about 50 meters away, so the bear and her cubs didn’t see him. He stayed there for hours, watching them. He clicked his camera as the sun set and as the night came. The bear and her cubs stayed around, moving slowly, as if they didn’t notice how close Valtteri was. He took so many pictures that evening, and he knew he had witnessed something special.
Bears are not rare in Finland, though you might not see them easily. They like to stay away from people. But Valtteri was lucky. The bears here are strong, quick, and good at climbing. They are also good swimmers. But, most of the time, they prefer to hide, making them hard to spot.
For Valtteri, the moments he captured were unforgettable. The cubs looked so sweet and innocent, like little children enjoying a game. In that moment, he felt like he was sharing something special with them. It was a gift, one he would always remember.
There are between 2,000 and 2,130 bears in Finland, but you rarely get to see them up close. Valtteri was lucky, and his photos showed just how beautiful these creatures really are.
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