By Leon Watson


These in-your-face polar bear pictures are the closest most of us get to one of nature's most powerful predators.

The heart-warming images show the curious white creatures as they investigate the camera held by one brave wildlife photographer - before they jump into the water with him.

Other shots show a male standing upright like a human with its arms outstretched, just like it was waving down a taxi.

Sniffing out the camera: This polar bear sticks its nose right up to the photographer's equipment

These incredible images were taken in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, along the Arctic Coast of Alaska

The incredible pictures were taken by veteran nature photographer Steven Kazlowski, 43, from New York.

Explaining how he was able to approach the man-eaters without becoming lunch, he said: 'I never got close to them, in fact it was the polar bears themselves that got close to me.

'The young bears were especially interested.'

Requiring months of preparation, Mr Kazlowski's expedition was a far cry from the day trips most wildlife photographers take.

The rare images are the closest most of us get to one of nature's most powerful predators

Up close: Veteran nature photographer Steven Kazlowski, 43, from New York, took these incredible snaps of polar bears in Alaska

Curious creatures: A pair of curious young polar bears take a paddle together in Bernard Spit, Alaska

A cub stands upright in the water and raises one paw as if hailing a taxi

Two Alaskan polar bear in the foreground and four more in the background are shown in this stunning snap

He added: 'I managed to take my pictures by working with native guides. I had to wait for months at a time in a location where I knew there would eventually be animals present.'

The images were taken in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, along the Arctic Coast of Alaska.

But while there are currently around 20,000 wild bears living in the Arctic Circle, their numbers are rapidly falling.

A curious bear swims towards photographer Steven Kazlowski, 43, from New York

There are currently around 20,000 wild bears living in the Arctic Circle, their numbers are rapidly falling

The heart-warming images show the curious white fur-balls as they investigate the camera

That number could be cut by two thirds by mid century if the Arctic continues to warm due to climate change, as many experts predict.

In 2008, the US government declared polar bears an endangered species and banned all American hunters from returning from Canada with their trophies.

Norway is the only country that has banned all hunting for the species, with Russia, Alaska and Greenland allowing native communities to hunt the bears as a food source.

Hide and seek: A curious young polar bear goes swimming in Bernard Spit, Alaska

Mr Kazlowski, from New York, has spent 14 years watching and learning about the enormous animals

Adorable: The incredible shots showed this cuddly-looking bear getting close to the camera


source:dailymail