A touching photograph from the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard captures a poignant scene of a juvenile polar bear settling into a slumber atop a diminutive iceberg amidst the vast expanse of the Arctic Sea.

Nima Sarikhani, an amateur photographer from Britain, immortalized this moment deep within the Arctic Circle, approximately 500 miles (800 kilometers) from the North Pole. The image, which depicts the bear fashioning a makeshift bed in the ice before succumbing to sleep, clinched the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award.

Following three days of relentless pursuit through dense fog in search of polar bears (Ursus maritimus), Sarikhani’s expedition vessel redirected its course southeastward toward some sea ice. There, amidst the icy terrain, the crew encountered two polar bears—a younger and an elder male. In the eerie glow of midnight, as the vessel drew near, the younger bear clambered onto a small iceberg, fashioning a nest with his paws before drifting into slumber.

“This photograph has evoked profound emotions in countless viewers,” Sarikhani remarked in a statement to Live Science.

The public cast their votes for “Ice Bed,” selecting it as the victor from a curated shortlist of 25 images assembled by a panel of judges and the esteemed Natural History Museum in London.

“Nima’s poignant image offers a poignant reminder of our planet’s beauty and fragility,” commented Douglas Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum. “It serves as a poignant visual testament to the profound bond between an animal and its habitat, underscoring the dire consequences of climate change and habitat degradation.”