Wapusk National Park is nothing but fascinating. The remote area from the northeast edge of Manitoba impresses with its spectacular landscapes and a variety of species that found their homes in this hostile and harsh environment.

However, the place is as hostile as it is captivating, especially in February and March. From mid-February to mid-March, specifically. This is when the huge female polar bears found their way out of their dens. But they are not alone, but with their adorable puppies of less than four months.

For nature photographers, capturing these moments on camera is a dream come true, but to witness these scenes, you have to brave really difficult weather conditions. The hardest I would say. But for this passionate photographer capturing a glimpse of a mother polar bear and her cubs was worth the sacrifice.

Daisy Gilardini, a Nikon ambassador, not only traveled a long way to this icy place, but she also had to wait more than 117 hours in extreme cold to take some photos with a mother polar bear and her newborn babies. In the end, it was worth all the effort, she said. However, it was far from easy!

“It is extremely difficult and rare to witness bears emerging from dens and one has to face extremely challenging conditions,” Gilardini said. “In these temperatures it is difficult to operate the camera because you need big gloves to prevent your hands from freezing and the cold drains the batteries very quickly.”