Polar bears in Finland frolic in donated load of snow

Polar bear mom Venus has gotten a summer treat — a chance to frolic in the snow with her eight-month-old cub despite
the heat enveloping Finland's northern Lapland.

A pile of snow has been dumped onto their home at Ranua Wildlife Park, 760 kilometres north of Helsinki.

It was donated by the Ruka ski centre to help cool down the polar bears, who were suffering in unusual temperatures of 24 C. The weather is supposed to cool down by the weekend.

Venus's cub, who has not been named yet, took his fledgling steps out of hibernation in March when he jumped out into the fresh Arctic snow.

On Wednesday he enjoyed the new snow.

Ranua is home to 200 animals, including 50 other Arctic species such as arctic foxes, geese, cranes, minks, buzzards, owls, otters, reindeer and wolverine.

• Toronto Zoo polar bear cub looks right at home in the snow

• Polar bear cub gets 1st taste of snow