A polar bear in Russia proudly showed off her two tiny cubs to the public for the first time.

In one special snap, taken at Novosibirsk Zoo in Siberia, one of the cubs even appears to be whispering into its mother’s ear.

In this sweet snap, taken at Novosibirsk Zoo in Siberia, a three-month-old bear cub appears to be whispering into its mother’s ear

The three-month-old pair are a rarity because it is unusual for polar bears to give birth to more than one cub in captivity.

Until this week, their mother, Gerda, kept the baby bears hidden from the world, but now she is walking outside with the playful youngsters.

The pair are a rarity because it is unusual for more than one cub to be born to the species in captivity

One video shows them revelling in the snow for the first time, while footage from a hidden camera shows them as they play together and with their mother in their den.

Their mother constantly sniffs the air for any sign of trouble.

Until recent days their mother, Gerda, kept the bears hidden from the world but now she is walking outside with the playful youngsters

Keepers have called on visitors to stay quiet and refrain from throwing food or toys to the cubs.

Such actions could spook the mother polar bear with dire consequences for the cubs.

Gerda is seen as a ‘Hero Mother’ by Russians for producing twins – and because she gave birth to two earlier offspring, one now at a zoo in Japan, the other in China.

The adorable pair have been pictured frolicking in the snow for the first time after Gerda finally let them out of her den

Andrey Shilo, director of Novosibirsk Zoo, said: ‘There have only been a handful of cases when mother polar bears raise two cubs.

‘We are hoping to see our Gerda’s twins doing well and are taking the utmost care of her well-being.

‘It is important that she feels tranquil.’

Footage from a hidden camera shows them as they sleep together with their mother in the den

He said: ‘Our workers do not even clean the snow near her enclosure now. Nature had a good plan: during the first months of the cubs’ life, the mother bears eat nothing, living instead on their internal resources.

‘We ask our visitors not to call Gerda by name, nor throw any toys or food to her.

‘She needs nothing now, and it can do harm to her. The best we can do for her is not to disturb.’

Andrey Shilo, director of Novosibirsk Zoo, said: ‘We ask our visitors not to call Gerda by name, nor throw any toys or food to her. She needs nothing now, and it can do harm to her’