By Elizabeth Hunter
A bear mother and her four cubs have been spotted playing and wrestling on a frozen lake in an adorable new video.
The North American black bears at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire enjoyed a day of ice skating after a recent cold snap caused the lake in their enclosure to freeze over.
Mom Phoenix and her four cubs were seen sniffing at the ice, sliding on their stomachs, and even having a wrestle on the slippery surface.
Cubs Harvard, Maple, Colorado and Aspen, seemed confused at first – before quickly getting caught up in the excitement.
A representative from Woburn Safari Park said: “During our recent cold snap, the frosty temperatures caused the lake in the North American black bear enclosure to freeze over, prompting Mom Phoenix and her four yearlings to venture out and explore!
“Each of the bears had a unique reaction to the ice. Some were baffled, cautiously navigating the slippery surface with their noses and paws, while others seemed to revel in the novel experience, rolling around and embracing the new sensation.
“The frozen lake also provided an opportunity for some playful sparring as the young bears took advantage of their opponents’ unsteady footing on the icy terrain.
“The freezing weather recently has posed some challenging conditions for us all, but it’s nice to know that it hasn’t stopped the bears having fun!”
