Swanning about! Adorable moment bears enjoy a ride on a pedalo at safari park

An adorable moment has been captured at a safari park of a group of bears enjoying a ride on a pedalo.

The bears were spotted climbing into a swan-shaped pedalo at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire, where a make-shift lake had formed after the ground became waterlogged following heavy rainfall. 

Staff were quick to take advantage of the situation, borrowing a swan-shaped pedalo and putting it by the edge of the new body of water, in the hopes that the bears would get curious. 

And it didn't take long before they went to investigate. One by one, the group of bears - also known as a sleuth - began to climb into the boat as it floated on the lake, until all four seats were taken.

The bears were spotted climbing into a swan-shaped pedalo at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire

A make-shift lake had formed after the ground became waterlogged following heavy rainfall. Staff were quick to take advantage of the situation, borrowing a swan-shaped pedalo and putting it by the edge of the new body of water

And it didn't take long before they went to investigate. One by one, the group of bears - also known as a sleuth - began to climb into the boat as it floated on the lake, until all four seats were taken

The North American black bears living at Woburn have just under a 13 acres reserve, which they share with the Canadian Timber wolves

The North American black bears living at Woburn have just under a 13 acres reserve, which they share with the Canadian Timber wolves.

This is one of the only mixed carivore enclosures in the UK and it is the home of adult male Chuck, three adult females named Indiana, Phoenix, and Dixie and three juveniles Koda, Georgia and Denver.

In 2022, the Park also welcomed four bear cubs to mother Phoenix, so now there are eleven bears in total and they live outside all year round.

Unlike grizzly bears Black bears do not have shoulder humps and their claws are shorter and more curved than other bear species, such as the sloth bear. Their claws are not retractable, so they are always extended and can be used for climbing, digging and tearing. 

Black bears have stout bodies that are bulky and thickset, with a short stubby tail and are famously opportunist feeders, so will eat almost anything. Which is also the reason bears have been known to rummage through human waste bins.