Bear hug! Adorable cubs cuddle their mom and clamber on top of her as they play in Alaska 

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Bear hug! Adorable cubs cuddle their mom and clamber on top of her as they play in the grass in Alaska

  • The stunning photos were taken by amateur photographer Hao Jiang, 54, in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska
  • Both cubs are six months old and are pictured snuggling up with their mother before one climbs on top of her
  • The family of bears had munched on grass and sipped water from a nearby stream before resting on the grass 

By Chris Jewers For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

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An amateur wildlife photographer has captured remarkable images of a mother bear and her two cubs cuddling and playing in Alaska.

The cubs, both six months old, are pictured snuggled up with their mother in some long grass in the Lake Clark National Park, Alaska before one of them boldly climbs up on top of her.

The stunning photographs of the family of were taken by amateur photographer Hao Jiang, who works in property management.   

The family of bears had just munched on grass and sipped water from a nearby stream before resting on the grass, the 54-year-old said.

‘I saw this lovely brown bear family grazing in the grassland at sunset. They would have had some food for dinner before going to the forest and sleeping at night. It is their daily habit. The mother wanted to take a nap after they had some grass and water by the stream.’ 

The family of brown bears were spotted cuddling in the grass in Lake Clark National Park, which is in southwest Alaska and around 100 miles southwest of Anchorage

The cubs are both six months old, and were pictured snuggled up with their mother before one of them boldly clambered on top of her, although she did not appear bothered by her cub's mischievousness

The cubs are both six months old, and were pictured snuggled up with their mother before one of them boldly clambered on top of her, although she did not appear bothered by her cub’s mischievousness

The family of bears had just munched on grass and sipped water from a nearby stream before resting on the grass, the photographer Hao Jiang said

The family of bears had just munched on grass and sipped water from a nearby stream before resting on the grass, the photographer Hao Jiang said

'I saw this lovely brown bear family grazing in the grassland at sunset. They would have had some food for dinner before going to the forest and sleeping at night,' she said.

‘I saw this lovely brown bear family grazing in the grassland at sunset. They would have had some food for dinner before going to the forest and sleeping at night,’ she said.

The 54-year-old, who works in property management but is a amateur photographer in her spare time, said 'It is their daily habit. The mother wanted to take a nap after they had some grass and water by the stream.'

The 54-year-old, who works in property management but is a amateur photographer in her spare time, said ‘It is their daily habit. The mother wanted to take a nap after they had some grass and water by the stream.’

Ms Jiang, from San Francisco, added: ‘When the mother laid down, an unexpected and surprising event happened in front of us – one cub climbed on the mother’s back and rested there while its sibling rested next to its mother.

‘It was a very pleasant surprise for me to capture it because it is rare to see brown bear cubs climbing on their mother’s back. 

‘The bond between brown bear mother and cubs is very strong. The cubs will always be in sight of their mother. She will protect and raise them until they are around two-and-half years old.’ 

The mother is pictured trying to have a snooze in the grass. One of her cubs rests its head on her, also apparently snoozing, but its sibling still has its eyes wide open, apparently deciding that it is not time to sleep just yet

The mother is pictured trying to have a snooze in the grass. One of her cubs rests its head on her, also apparently snoozing, but its sibling still has its eyes wide open, apparently deciding that it is not time to sleep just yet

Ms Jiang, from San Francisco, added: 'When the mother laid down, an unexpected and surprising event happened in front of us - one cub climbed on the mother's back and rested there while its sibling rested next to its mother.'

Ms Jiang, from San Francisco, added: ‘When the mother laid down, an unexpected and surprising event happened in front of us – one cub climbed on the mother’s back and rested there while its sibling rested next to its mother.’

'It was a very pleasant surprise for me to capture it because it is rare to see brown bear cubs climbing on their mother's back,' Jiang said. There are approximately 32,000 brown bears, also known as grizzly bears, living in Alaska

‘It was a very pleasant surprise for me to capture it because it is rare to see brown bear cubs climbing on their mother’s back,’ Jiang said. There are approximately 32,000 brown bears, also known as grizzly bears, living in Alaska

'The bond between brown bear mother and cubs is very strong,' the photographer added. 'The cubs will always be in sight of their mother. She will protect and raise them until they are around two-and-half years old.'

‘The bond between brown bear mother and cubs is very strong,’ the photographer added. ‘The cubs will always be in sight of their mother. She will protect and raise them until they are around two-and-half years old.’

The mother bear does not seem phased by her mischievous cub who has climbed to sit on her back, as the second snuggles in for a snooze. Grizzly bear cubs will often nurse for up to three years

The mother bear does not seem phased by her mischievous cub who has climbed to sit on her back, as the second snuggles in for a snooze. Grizzly bear cubs will often nurse for up to three years