Polar bear cubs were seen taking first steps as scientists study the effects of climate change on their development.

Timelapse footage shows two arctic bear cubs and their mother wandering through the snowy landscape on March 9, last year, earlier than expected in Svalbard, Norway.

The breathtaking video was exhibited during the International Polar Bear Day in the Journal of Wildlife Management on February 27, displaying nearly a decade of footage from remote cameras placed in the rugged Arctic mountains of Svalbard.

Researchers from Polar Bears International, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, the Norwegian Polar Institute, and the University of Toronto Scarborough conducted the research, offering rare insight into the secretive denning behaviours of polar bears—a crucial yet delicate stage that determines cub survival.

The discovery prompted wildlife experts to question how climate change might be reshaping this critical period.

With less than half of cubs surviving to adulthood, the denning phase is a critical moment for the species. The study reveals that mums and cubs lingered near their dens for an average of 12 days after emerging, though some stayed as little as two days while others stretched it to a month. Some mothers even relocated their families to new dens, showcasing their adaptability in the harsh Arctic landscape.

Dr Louise Archer, the study's lead author and a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto Scarborough, said: 'Polar bear mothers are facing growing challenges to raise their young as the Arctic transforms. Every moment we capture tells a unique story, helping us build a clearer picture of this vulnerable time and arm conservationists with better tools to protect them.'

Dr Megan Owen of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said: 'This is a window into a world few have seen. Protecting these denning areas isn't just about saving cubs—it's about securing the future of polar bears in a region under siege by change.'

Newborn cubs across the Arctic are nestled in dens, growing rapidly from their tiny, half-kilogram selves into 10-kilogram bundles of fur, fueled by their mother's rich milk.

As spring approaches, these families are expected to emerge between February and April. Through the study, scientists aim to improve their chances of survival, offering hope for a species on the brink.