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This may look like a death match involving two ferocious rivals, but these grizzly bear brothers are having some fun in the snow.

Nature photographer Don Johnston captured the fascinating play fight while visiting a grizzly bear sanctuary in the US state of Montana.

The 40st bears squared up to one another for a wrestling match in the snow, putting on a show for tourists.

Nature photographer Don Johnston captured the fascinating play fight while visiting the Montana Grizzly Encounter in the US

Mr Johnston, a retired biology teacher, was about 30ft away from the not-so cuddly bears as they bared their teeth and used judo-like moves

While it was a fierce scrap the bears 'were just blowing off some steam', says Canadian wildlife photographer Don Johnston

Don, a retired biology teacher, was about 30ft away from the not-so cuddly bears as they bared their teeth and used judo-like moves to knock each other to the floor.

He was stood behind protective fencing while snapping the photos at the Montana Grizzly Encounter in the city of Bozeman.

The 62-year-old, from Lively, Ontario in Canada, said: 'The power and strength of these animals was amazing to see, the ground shook when they rolled over.'

 The ground shook when the bears rolled over during a wrestling match that lasted just two or three minutes, says the photographer

Montana Grizzly Encounter rescues bears that were born in 'inhumane captive situations' and cannot be released into the wild

The 40st bears squared up to one another for a wrestling match in the snow, putting on an amazing show for tourists

He added: 'While it seems a serious and fierce scrap, they were just blowing off steam.

'They spent about 20 minutes in front of me and wrestled for two or three minutes and then took a rest.

'It was amazing to watch.' 

Photographer Don Johnston, from Lively, Ontario in Canada, said: 'The power and strength of these animals was amazing to see'

Mr Johnston has travelled the world to photograph everything from grizzly bears and baby foxes to African elephants and raccoons

Hug it out: The grizzly bear brothers appear to embrace as they struggle to knock each other onto the snowy floor

Montana Grizzly Encounter says it gives the bears the 'best possible life' while educating visitors and providing an up-close look

Don Johnston was stood behind protective fencing while snapping the photos at the Montana Grizzly Encounter in the city of Bozeman

Don, a self-taught photographer, has travelled the world to photograph wildlife – from giant polar bears and baby foxes to African elephants and raccoons.

On this occasion he visited bears at a sanctuary that rescues bears that were born in 'inhumane captive situations' and cannot be released into the wild.

On its website, the bear refuge says: 'We give the bears the best possible life here at the sanctuary. We give people an opportunity to see and understand this awesome creature safely, up close, with no bars or cages to obstruct the view.'