This image won Hermann Hirsch the GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2013.
Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can stay underwater for up to two minutes, using their strong front paws to propel themselves through the water. They are also skilled hunters and mainly feed on seals, using their powerful jaws and sharp teeth to catch their prey. However, polar bears are facing many challenges due to climate change, which is causing the sea ice to melt and reducing their access to food. Conservation efforts are underway to help protect polar bear populations and their fragile Arctic habitat.
Paul Souders wins the BBC 2014 Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Animals in Their Environment award , for this eerie image of a polar bear swimming around ice. Taken 30 miles off the shore of Canada, it took Souders 3 days to scout for the shot.