Polar bear cub Momota goes viral for playing with traffic cones

Momota, an eight-month-old polar bear cub at the Oga Aquarium GAO in Akita Prefecture, Japan, has gained widespread online popularity for his unusual obsession with plastic traffic cones.

Footage shows the cub, who was born in December 2025, pushing, carrying, and stacking the colorful cones. In one viral moment, Momota was seen attempting to wear four cones on his head simultaneously. The cub's mother remains close by, closely monitoring his activities.

Aquarium staff utilize these cones as part of an enrichment program designed to encourage natural exploration and physical activity. The objects can also be used to hide food to stimulate the animals' natural behaviors.