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Finnish bear family nabs wildlife photo prize

A Finnish high school health teacher’s brown bear portraits scoop up wildlife photography awards.

Karhuemo kolmen poikasen kanssa
Image: Valtteri Mulkahainen
  • Yle News

"Now that I’m 57 I'm yearning for grandkids, and bear cubs are like young children—playing, fighting, playing again," said Valtteri Mulkahainen of his fondness for Finland’s brown bears (Ursus Arcto).

Karhu kyhnyttää selkäänsä mäntyä vasten
Image: Valtteri Mulkahainen

Mulkahainen, who lives in Sotkamo, north-east Finland, has nabbed several international photography awards, most recently winning the 2018 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards for his series of a family of brown bears entitled ”Mother Returns from a Parents’ Meeting.”

Kolme karhunpoikasta kiipeää männynrungossa
Image: Valtteri Mulkahainen

”The cubs were up in the tree for about an hour. They were just like little kids and couldn’t wait peacefully and kept running up and down,” he explained of his winning entry depicting the family life of Europe’s largest predator.