Young Animals Protected Themselves
Despite this, the family had little alternative but to risk their lives on the treacherous journey across Lake Vygozero in order to have any chance of survival. The young animals did everything in their power to protect themselves by remaining close to their moms while they struggled for their life.
She quickly and tragically came to the realisation that if she was unable to save them, not a single one of them would be able to survive the ordeal alive if she did not succeed in rescuing them.There is no way that the choice could have been made in an easy manner under any circumstances.