These stunning images show the moment a pack of polar bears brace themselves against the harsh winter as a fierce snow storm swirls around them . The mother and cubs were pictured huddling together against the blizzard in Kaktovik , Alaska - 800km north of the Arctic Circle . Judith Conning , a social worker from Australia , took the trip to the remote town to watch the family of polar bears as they prepared to fish on the frozen Beaufort Sea . Safety in numbers : A mother and her two cubs huddle together to keep warm as a fierce blizzard sweeps across Kaktovik in Alaska . Cold front : The mother bear and her two cubs sit together with their backs towards the bitter gale as snow swirls around them . Wintery : The mother bear nuzzles one of her cubs as snow sweeps across a freezing cold beach 800km north of the Arctic Circle . Brightening up : With the blizzard finally subsiding , one of the cubs takes a seat in the snow while its proud mother watches on . Face-off : Despite the blizzard , two bears from the pack found the energy to stand up on their hind legs and square-up for a play fight . While the mothers wanted nothing more than to rest and sleep , the cubs were content with playing in the snow and exploring their surroundings . The bears seemed unperturbed by the blustery conditions - but the weather played havoc on the photography trip . Judith , whose pictures were awarded the Australian Photography Magazine 's 'Nature Photographer of the Year ' , said : 'The weather kept most people indoors as at times it was impossible to stay upright outside . ' I was overwhelmed by the intelligence , the love , care and protectiveness the mothers show for their cubs . We watched a group of cubs - young ones and teenagers - play and it was for all the world like watching kids in the school yard . Rough and tumble : The weather may have been dismal , but it did not stop the polar bear cubs from enjoying a play fight as their mother watched on just yards away . The big chill : Three bears huddle together as they attempt to sleep through harsh winter conditions in northern Alaska last October . On the march : The family of polar bears waited until the blizzard had passed before prowling along the shoreline looking for food . Play time : While the mothers wanted nothing more than to rest and sleep , the cubs were content with playing in the snow and exploring their surroundings . 'There was pushing and shoving , making friends and general rough housing with some in the thick of it and others keeping to the sidelines . ' Despite the difficult weather conditions , the rare sighting of the endangered animals moved the photographer . She said : ' I want to weep when I think of what may ultimately happen to them . ' I want to weep when I think about how difficult it has already become - how many of them now die of starvation or drown . I also despair at the fact that fewer and fewer cubs survive to adulthood . I am awed by the privilege of seeing them . ' Just 20,000 polar bears remain in the wild according to the World Wild Fund For Nature , and their survival is threatened by the loss of sea ice , which they use as a platform to hunt seals , rest and breed . A bear makes its way through ice and snow along the windswept shoreline of the Beaufort Sea . The dramatic pictures were taken by photographer Judith Conning . Just 20,000 polar bears remain in the wild according to the World Wild Fund For Nature , and their survival is threatened by the loss of sea ice , which they use as a platform to hunt seals , rest and breed . Freezing : Judith Conning , a social worker from Australia , took the trip to the remote town to watch the family of polar bears as they prepared to fish in the Beaufort Sea .
Pack of polar bears seen huddling together for warmth during a fierce blizzard 800km north of the Arctic Circle . The mother and her two cubs were photographed sleeping in the snow in the remote town of Kaktovik in Alaska . Judith Conning , a social worker from Australia , captured the images on a trip to the shores of the Beaufort Sea .