A pair of rescued grizzly bears have been entertaining visitors at a wildlife sanctuary with their love of climbing into a bathtub.
Dawson and Knute, both 13, were discovered as cubs when their mother was sadly killed during a camping incident.
They were too young to survive on their own and have been raised ever since at the BC Wildlife Park, in British Columbia, Canada.
Even though the pair already had access to a pond and drinking water sources, keepers at the park thought the addition of a water-filled bathtub would be a fun addition.
However, clever Knute and Dawson quickly discovered how to pull the plug out of their bath and now love to use it as a bear-sized lounger.
As these pictures show, a full-sized grizzly enjoying their ablutions makes for a very funny photograph. A spokesperson for the park said they are now on the hunt for a second claw-footed tub so that both bears can enjoy a lounge at the same time.
They said: “Although the bears have access to a pond and several drinking water sources within their denning area, we originally wanted the bathtub to hold water so they’d have another place to cool off.
“We thought a cast iron bathtub would be able to withstand to their escapades, however, on day one they figured out how to pull the plug out, and the bathtub quickly drained.
“Now it’s used as their lounger, and they truly love sitting in it.”
BC Wildlife Park is home to nearly 200 animals and 65 different species that are native to British Columbia including cougars, bears, wolves, ungulates, reptiles, birds of prey, and the only kermode bear in human care in the world.
Many of the animals at the park have been rescued, or were orphaned, and are unable to survive on their own in the wild.
The spokesperson added it wasn’t only the bears that seemed to love the bathtubs. They continued: “Dawson and Knute often enjoy sitting upright in different things including day beds, bathtubs, their pond, and on occasion even their water buckets.
“We’ve been thrilled by the overwhelmingly positive response to seeing them in the tub. It’s heartening when both the public and the animal itself enjoy an enrichment moment like this.
“This attention not only amplifies our platform but also elevates the conversation around wildlife conservation.
“Although some of the permanent residents have resided at the park for much of their lives, the animals in our care are still wild animals.
“All interactions with Dawson and Knute and the other dangerous animals are done through protective contact including feeding, training, and offering enrichment.
“It’s integral that we keep wildlife wild and remember to never approach a wild animal, maintain your distance, and don’t feed wildlife.”