Adorable footage has captured the moment a lone polar bear enjoyed a solo play session in the water.

The animal, nicknamed ‘Grinch’, can be seen enjoying a “personal playground” by the edge of the ice as she frolics in the water.

The young bear, who is three-and-a-half, has gone viral on Instagram, with the clip garnering 385,000 likes.

She gained the nickname not due to her festive look, but due to her appetite for reindeer – with the bear known for killing a lot of the local reindeer.

The footage was captured by Arctic photographer and cinematographer, Florian Ledoux, 33, on Svalbard.

“Discovering an old seal breathing hole, she turned it into her personal playground,” he told NeedToKnow.co.uk.

“With pure delight, the Grinch bathed in the icy waters and playfully tossed little ice floes, creating a symphony of splashes.

“Her spirited adventure epitomized the harmony between predator and prey, reminding us to treasure the fragile beauty of nature.

“As the night deepened, the Grinch bid farewell to her icy haven, ready to continue her Arctic journey, renewed by the magic of play.

“The Grinch exhibited playful and curious behaviour, often seeking interaction with others and attempting to play with walruses.

“She engages in various activities, such as pulling seaweed, hunting birds, and even rolling in the water while holding a block of ice.

“Her energetic nature and constant running give the impression of hyperactivity.

“Seeing her thriving in the wild environment and enjoying herself made me feel delighted.

“I feel hopeful that the bears are smart enough to adapt if only we give them a chance and stop hunting them.”

Florian shared the clip with the caption: “Once the harsh winter is gone, when come the good and easier days, we often encounter bears swimming by the ice edge.

“Polar bears are extremely capable of having fun alone with whatever they find.”

The video proved popular on social media, with users flocking to comment.

One person said: “I have just spent over 30 minutes marvelling at these and other images... It’s truly marvellous, and I want to thank you for reminding us that this planet doesn’t belong to us alone. We should share it and show respect to all who inhabit it.”

Another fan commented: “I can't think of anyone else showing us polar bears' life the way you do. There's such a perfect balance between wilderness, poetry and peacefulness. What a talented person you are Florian and thank you for sharing this.”

“This is how they should live, no zoo!” said someone else.

Another user added: “This is the sweetest video of a wild animal in the cold waters, playing in the icy waters like nobody's watching and without a care in the world, I love it!”

“He is very happy and relaxed that he enjoys that part of the world that corresponds to him to be free and happy swimming in extremely icy waters,” said someone else.

ENDS

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