A curious bear has become the surprise star of wildlife cameras set up in Boulder, Colorado, taking hundreds of "selfies" in an apparent impromptu photoshoot, local officials said. This particular bear, however, appeared to be captivated by the camera. "In this instance, a bear took a special interest in one of our wildlife cameras and took the opportunity to capture hundreds of 'selfies,'" Phillip Yates, a spokesperson for Open Space and Mountain Parks, said in a statement Thursday. The photo series, which appears to meditate on the ephemeral nature of life, has pioneered a bold new hybrid of self-portraiture and wildlife photography. While officials may not have expected photoshoots to be among those uses, Yates said the images captured by the wildlife cameras can also be used to help recommend measures to protect important natural areas.

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