Even the bravest heroes struggle to get past the beauty of a woman, let alone bears. To earn a nod of approval for mating, male bears must be victorious, defeating all other rivals.
Typically, countries around the world choose a single national symbol, which may be a specific animal, bird, or plant representative of the region. However, Finland, a country with an incredibly rich natural ecosystem, boasts seven national symbols. All of these symbols were selected by the public through thousands of votes held during the 1980s and 1990s. Each of Finland’s national natural symbols carries mythological significance and is linked to traditions and cultures that have existed here for a long time in various interesting ways.
Bears are a beloved and highly respected species in Finland.
The seven cultural symbols of Finland include: Brown Bear, Whooper Swan, Lily of the Valley, Silver Birch, Perch, Granite, and the Seven-Spotted Ladybug. Among these, the bear stands out prominently in both mythology and epic tales in Finland. The ancient Finno-Ugric people revered and respected the bear, while the Finnish people still regard it as the “lord” of the green forest.
Today, the population of brown bears in Finland is approximately 1,500 living freely in the forests, which is why they have been classified by the government as a species under special protection. Brown bears are very wary of human presence, making it rare for both locals and tourists to spot them.
A fortunate tourist, during a trip to the forests of Kuhmo, Finland, stumbled upon not just one, but two massive brown bears.
It seems that these two bears did not encounter each other by chance, but rather “scheduled” a meeting in the forest to settle a dispute. This is evident in the footage, as upon arriving at the meeting point, they begin to growl and greet each other before launching into a brawl. The bear that appears later, which is physically stronger, takes the initiative to strike first.
It stands upright, leveraging its strength to tackle its opponent to the ground. Then, it attempts to use its sharp teeth to bite into the head of its adversary.
The two bears before entering the battle.
Brown bears are known for their incredibly powerful bite, capable of exerting a force of over 500 kg. Fortunately, this battle did not escalate to a life-or-death situation, so neither bear suffered severe injuries.
According to scientists, during the mating season, brown bears often engage in such power struggles. Female bears will choose the strongest male for mating, a behavior that has been observed since ancient times, serving as a means of selecting dominant genes to ensure the survival of the species.
Fights that score points in the eyes of the female often occur with great intensity; if neither side backs down, it could lead to a fatal outcome.
