Polar Bear: I come in peace!

[sabrina 1]

This looked like a terrible tragedy about to happen to the tethered and helpless sled dogs








But wait!









Did the Polar Bear just want a hug after all?








An affectionate lick for a newfound friend?









Awwww! Hugs for his new furry friend.










Amazing! According to the story, the Polar Bear returned every night for a week to play with his new friend.

Polar Bear I Come In Peace

The photos were taken in the wilds of Canada by Nature photographer, Norbert Rosing.

[hlthe2b]

1. I love those photos. They are amazing.

I saw those posted elsewhere a while back and was captivated. ;)

[jobycom]

2. Awww! What we understand about other animals, their emotions, and how their minds work is so limited

They are so much more than we see them as. They play, they love, they think...

Beautiful pictures. Thanks.

[Kaleko]

11. A great humbling is needed to get human animals back in touch with

their emotional intelligence. This humbling is coming. The collapse of the head-centered human being who wants to conquer all of nature (his own nature - as if that were separate from himself!) is well underway.

[MattBaggins]

23. And now to piss in everyones cornflakes

What happens on the day that the bear returns with an empty stomach?

[hlthe2b]

24. I don't know... Do you eat your family members when ravenous?

Does your dog? How about your cat? Maybe if they were literally starving, as the true state of starvation can definitely impact behavior, but animals, like humans can learn to contain hunting and predatorial instincts. :shrug:

[AtheistCrusader]

57. Anthropomorphizing wild polar bears is a stupendous idea.

Wild animals are, by any human standard, unpredictable.

Something interesting seems to have happened here, but I would not bet on a repeat occurrance, and likely, a human is going to end up shooting that bear, rightly fearing for their life, when that bear approaches a different sled.

[awoke_in_2003]

60. ask Zigfried and Roy...

what "family members" are capable of.

[Kaleko]

30. No problem. On that day, some politician will

convince him to just eat cake.

[sabrina 1]

32. The bear did have an empty stomach from the reports

I have read on the photos. He had been without food for a few months. They hibernate and can live without food for a long time.

I will try to find the link to where I read that. But that made the encounter all the more amazing. He could have acted on his natural instincts and just killed the dogs for food, but he didn't. Who knows why? One of the mysteries of nature we are not capable of understanding yet.

[Canuckistanian]

44. You've got a point

Polar bear/dog encounters don't always end so photogenically.

[freshwest]

49. Agreed. Glimpses peeking through daily. Good.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

58. + + +

I lost my beloved dog a year ago after a botched veterinary procedure... I learned more about love, forgiveness, patience, stillness, et al, from my Cody than from any single human relationship I've had...animals are closer to the oneness than we humans.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

71. thanks

for the compassion -not

[TorchTheWitch]

3. I remember this story and pics from a year or so ago

whenever it was posted before. IIRC, the dog and the bear were actually reuniting old friends rather than having just met. Nice to see the pics again though. They're so adorable.

[sabrina 1]

10. Sorry, I didn't know it had been posted before.

I received it in an email a few months ago and I admit, it made me cry. I checked it out to make sure it was legitimate and for some reason, was reminded of it today and decided to post it.

Thanks for your comment :-)

[TorchTheWitch]

14. oh it's lovely to see again!

And lots of other people might have missed it last time. I'd forgotten about this, so it's so nice to look at again. Gets me all mushy and misty-eyed.

I wish I could remember more of the story. I think it was something like they'd been tracking that family of bears for a really long time and watching the babies grow up and then this unexpectedly happened so the dogs and the bears would have been somewhat ok with each other since they'd long since been accustomed to seeing each other from a distance or something like that. But still, for the bear to just out of the blue go right up to the dogs and them playing together like that is pretty amazing.

Oh I just absolutely love that one photo of the dog standing under the bear's neck and the bear hugging him into his chest! I want it framed and hanging on my wall. Actually, I'd like to have the whole series framed and hanging on my wall.

[sabrina 1]

19. Gets me mushy-eyed also!

I didn't know they had been tracking the bears and that they had come to know the dogs. I knew the photographer was there to try to film polar bears in the wild and when he saw the bear approaching the sled dogs, was certain it was going to end in disaster.

Airc, the photographer had to leave the following the day but the owner of the dogs may have stayed a while longer.

It really is beautiful, and it's a good idea to frame them and hang them somewhere to look at as a reminder that there is hope that even natural enemies can make peace. I would love to know what was in their minds though. Animals are so mysterious to us but I bet they know way more about us than we do about them ~

Btw, if these photos make you cry, have you seen this amazing video? I came across when I was doing research to check out those photos. Look at the bear and the dog around 1.15 or so. THAT is truly amazing. I think it is from a documentary which I would really love to find.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3ag9o_polar-bears-and-dogs-playing_animals

[TorchTheWitch]

45. oooooo, squeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

That's so damn adorable! I have to send this link to my brothers before I forget... they'll just love this! Oh my goodness he's hugging and cuddling the dog like a baby! squeeeeeeeeeee! >>>THUD<<<

From what little I recall it was something like a situation where the bears in the family they'd been tracking for so long and the dogs were familiar with each other but just to a point where they were accepted be be hanging around, so they would have been familiar with each other's scents and could identify those dogs and their humans from some other pack of dogs and their humans (who they probably wouldn't be comfortable hanging around so close since they'd be strangers). So I don't think it was so much a case of them ever really meeting before but more like general acceptance of being in close proximity while basically ignoring each other and going about their own thing. So the first time that one bear came right up to the dogs it probably would have seemed threatening and scary by the humans especially since none of them ever did it before. And I know dogs seem to draw an invisible line where they're ok with you as long as you're behind that line and basically ignore you, but if you get closer and cross that line and look like you're purposely approaching then they start getting all aggressive and barking... like, "ok now you're getting into my space so get back behind that line you creature I don't know well enough to be invading my air space!". So it's really surprising that the dogs didn't react that way when the bear came up to them and instead were curious and happy about it.

I also think it was two guys with the pack of dogs and the one guy left the next day for some reason but the other one stayed for another week and he said that the bear came back every evening at pretty much the same time for that week they were still there just to play with the dogs.

I'd love to have that series of photos hanging on my wall... each one is a progression in the story and they all have the same nice color theme. I wonder if the photographer sells prints and if they're pretty cheap.

[sabrina 1]

54. Lol, the bear is playing with the dog as if the dog was

his teddy bear!

Do you think those dogs are the same ones in the still photos in the OP? It seems to be part of a documentary but I couldn't find the rest of it.

I did read that the photographer had not had much luck waiting to get some shots of a Polar Bear and this happened the night before he had to leave.

One report I read said that the dog the bear chose to play with was giving friendly signals from the minute the bear approached so that was why the bear chose him. But that would mean the bear wanted to be friendly and didn't intend to harm them. But if they dogs HAD reacted differently, who knows what might have happened.

I love the coloring also. In the first picture I love the way the sun tints the bear's fur and the second dog in the background.

I will have to send them to my brother also. He loves Polar Bears ~ :-)

[GentryDixon]

82. This is the first I have seen it.

Thank you so much. It makes my heart happy.:-)

[sabrina 1]

84. I'm glad it makes you happy. It made me happy when I

first saw it also, and still does! :-)

[Dappleganger]

4. The last photo is amazing!

It clearly shows the bear acting submissive to the dog (on his back). Thank you for sharing these!!

[closeupready]

5. OMG, too, too cute!

:rofl:

[PBS Poll-435]

6. Thanks for this

Made my day!


:yourock: (Occasionally) :P

[sabrina 1]

7. Lol, so do you,

occasionally ~ :-)

[gateley]

8. This just melts your heart. We can all be that gentle and loving! Thanks! nt

[jobycom]

12. Gentle and loving? In GD???

:rofl: Well, we can try. :)

[OhioChick]

9. How adorable!

Thanks for posting. :)

[Uncle Joe]

13. Kicked and recommended, on edit here's another pic

Thanks for the thread, sabrina.:) :thumbsup:

[TorchTheWitch]

15. that's the one I was thinking of!

I could have sworn there were more in the series! Now I have to find all the other ones.

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

[PBS Poll-435]

16. Wow

That pic is so nice.


Thanks!

[KansDem]

17. Look at the difference in the size of their paws!

That bear has one big paw!

[TorchTheWitch]

46. those are paddles, not paws

Everybody always comments on the giant feet my dog has, and I always say in a really serious voice "they aren't paws, they're hooves"... always gets a laugh. In the bear's case, I think paddles or flippers are more appropriate terms than hooves given their size. LOL!

[sabrina 1]

21. Oh, that is absolutely beautiful.

Did it come from this series of photos, or from this documentary which I just posted above for TorchTheWitch?

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3ag9o_polar-bears-and-dogs-playing_animals

Check out the bear and the dog around 1.15. I would love to see the full documentary if there is one. These creatures are amazing.

Thanks for that adorable photo, Uncle Joe!

[Uncle Joe]

29. I first saw that pic on a post by Ellipsis on a different thread

having to do with Assange of all things, so I stole it, but yes I believe the pic I posted looks like it originated from the video and documentary in your post, sabrina.

Once again thanks again for the thread, and have a Happy New Year! :hi:

[sabrina 1]

33. Happy New Year to you too, Uncle Joe ~

'having to do with Assange of all things' ~

Maybe the U.S. Government will embrace freedom of the press instead of censoring it? Lol! We can dream ~ :-)

[tblue37]

51. The sequence in the video that picture comes from is a bit uncomfortable, because the chained dog

obviously wants to and is trying very hard to get away from the bear's embrace, but the bear is not letting him go, and also keeps jawing around the dog's neck and squeezing the dog. It's being playful, but it is pretty clear the dog is nervous and not enjoying that part of the play at all! Besdies, the bear is so big and powerful that even in play it could do some damage.

[Odin2005]

28. AWWWW!!!

:D

[Little Star]

18. Awww! How darned cute is that? Love it! n/t

[hlthe2b]

20. Link to a public radio slideshow presentation on the story behind

this. A behavioral pysychologist obtained these photos from the (National Geographic) photographer and the Husky team owner. Here is his interpretation of what he saw. BTW, I do not believe there is evidence of these huskies having "known" this bear from the past, though others have mentioned it and it was my first thought as well.

http://being.publicradio.org/programs/play/audiogallery/soundslider.swf?size=2&pathToAudio=http://download.publicradio.org/podcast/speakingoffaith/multimedia/play/

[sabrina 1]

22. Thank you so much for that. Very interesting to learn more

about the photos. I had not heard that they knew each other either. But as the radio host said, sometimes it does happen in the wild. I doubt we'll ever know what they were thinking, but whatever it was, it was awe-inspiring.

Here's another video showing that sometimes dogs and bears, normally natural enemies, sometimes do interact in what seems to be a very loving way. I posted it elsewhere in the thread, but you might not have seen it. It truly is amazing. To me anyhow, as the bears really seem to love the dogs:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3ag9o_polar-bears-and-dogs-playing_animals

[hlthe2b]

25. That was wonderful.... I've saved that link. Special! Thanks

[BrklynLiberal]

55. Thanks for that link...

[Odin2005]

26. That is so cool!

Thanks!

[Rex]

27. The 'leaders of the free world' could learn something from this bear and dog

alas they won't, but could.

[freshwest]

31. Thanks, I saw this some time back in a video. It's beautiful.

[snagglepuss]

35. Was the video on line? I would love to see it.

[freshwest]

36. Here you go snagglepuss!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE-Nyt4Bmi8

[woo me with science]

61. Wow! Thank you for posting this.

Magnificent.

I was going to say, "Someone should tell that bear not to play with his food," but I was overcome and am getting sappy now, too.

[sabrina 1]

37. I haven't seen a video of this incident. But

I did find another video, which I think is part of a documentary which I would love to find, and it is equally beautiful. It shows another incident of Polar Bears interacting with sled dogs and some of the scenes are absolutely amazing.

You can see it here http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3ag9o_polar-bears-and-dogs-playing_animals

I think the adorable photo posted higher up in the thread by Uncle Joe, came from this video. Around 1.16. It really is amazing to watch as the Polar Bear plays with and hugs the sled dog.

Hope that helps :-)

[snagglepuss]

34. Amazing and adorable. Thanks so much for posting. It has really made a

lousy day much better. :hi:

[sabrina 1]

40. You're welcome, snagglepuss. I'm sorry you're having

a lousy day, but glad the photos made it a little better for you. They did for me too ~ :-)

[DeSwiss]

38. K&R!!!

If you liked these photos, you'll love these vids:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_rH3WEJh6c&feature=player_embedded">'Happy Feet' Penguin Spotted In Real Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT0O2RyxnkY&feature=player_embedded">Polar Bears 'Playing' with Spy Cameras

[sabrina 1]

39. Lol, that penguin is funny.

An real independent penguin, or is he on speed?

Polar Bears are so curious and intelligent. It is so sad to think that they could become extinct. I love that video of the bear taking apart the camera. They are never endingly fascinating. Thanks for the links.

[Dem_in_Nebr.]

63. Now that's a Hoppy Penguin!

Sorry, couldn't resist!

[greytdemocrat]

41. Woof! n/t

[applegrove]

42. There was a story from the 1970s in Churchill manitoba. A mother looked

outside her house and saw her kid coming home from school. She looked in the other direction and saw a polar bear coming. So she grabbed a broom and ran outside yelling and swinging the broom back and forth over her head. The bear took off LOL!

[pinboy3niner]

43. Great pics!

And what a story!

K&R :thumbsup:

[rhett o rick]

47. Good thing Palin wasnt close in her gunship helicopter. nm

[HEyHEY]

48. It's actually very common, but can also go the other way

I've seen that too, the dog didn't die, but the bear threw up at least twenty feet.

The second to last pic is funny, that dog looks scared to death!

[suffragette]

50. Amazing pics

Nice way to ring out the old year and begin the new.

[jimlup]

52. Cool thanks!

There are worth downloading

[Boudica the Lyoness]

53. These pictures are so beautiful

Thanks for posting them :)

[BlueIris]

56. Note to Americans: This is how other mammals choose to cope with difference and adversity.

Hey Polars--hug your Sled Dogs today.

[awoke_in_2003]

59. but one day...

that polar bear is gonna be hungry- then all bets are off.

[sabrina 1]

66. From what I've read, the bear was hungry though.

They had been tracking the bear for a while and according to at least one article I read, the bear had not eaten in a few months. Not sure how true that is, but bears do hibernate and don't eat for long periods of time so it's possible.

[awoke_in_2003]

68. I shouldn't rain on people's parades...

sorry about that.

[sabrina 1]

69. It's okay. Lol, I think it's because what you say is true

that when something like this happens it makes such an impression ~ :-)

[Dem_in_Nebr.]

62. This reminds me of Thomas Mangelsen's "Images of Nature" galleries.

There's one in Omaha NE for those that live close. His photography is fantastic.

The website is: http://www.mangelsen.com

Most of his work is way out of my price range but I really enjoy going there just to check out his work.

Thanks for the pictures, sabrina 1.

[sabrina 1]

67. Thanks for the link.

I just looked at some of his work, especially the polar bear photos. I had not heard of him but I will bookmark his site. I love nature photography. There is one on the second page of polar bear shots that I have seen before, the mother and two babies, I think the Wildlife Society uses it. And on this page http://www.mangelsen.com/store/Collector_Edition_Prints___Mammals___Polar_Bears?Args=&page_number=2 I love the one titled 'lazy boys'. Lol, bears are so magnificent and it is so sad to think that these beautiful creatures may not survive global warming in their natural habitat. :cry:

[vduhr]

64. I love the photos, but just wondering about the link you provided.....

When I click on the link "Polar Bear I Come in Peace" it takes me to a website with the above photos; however, it doesn't allow me to close the page. I keep getting a "Do you want to navigate away.... Press escape....." but no option of yes or no to close it. I had do control+alt+delete to get it to close.

[sabrina 1]

65. I'm sorry about that. I just tried it

(made a new tab) and it worked for me. I am using Google Chrome, and maybe opening in a tab makes a difference? That is very annoying though and I'm sorry it happened to you.

[vduhr]

70. No problem...

Thanks for the tip on using Google Chrome. I'll try that the next time.

[MrMickeysMom]

72. Geez, that's amazing...

Kids... don't do this at home, eh?

[sabrina 1]

73. Lol, it is amazing though ~ if I owned those dogs I would have

been terrified at first!

[flvegan]

74. Sometimes animals communicate better than we people do.

If not for our inherent stupidity, we might learn something from this.

[Ellipsis]

75. Some of us do.

Happy New year to vegans everywhere.

[flvegan]

76. Many do.

This isn't a vegan thing.

[Ellipsis]

77. You're right there.

So what is then... few or many?


Just sayin' happy new year tough guy.

[flvegan]

78. And to you.

Happy New Year!

[sabrina 1]

85. Awww! They are magnificent creatures. I would love to get a hug like that

from a beautiful animal like that.

[Mojeoux]

79. This was in a Nat Geo article about the power of "PLAY."

The photographer was working for the mag doing measurements in the snow cap and he said he was terrified when the bear first showed up. The article said the bear came back for a week and played with all the dogs.

The lead dog presented the bear with the literal "down-ward dog" position that means "lets play!" Apparently bears understand dog.

All the local old timers didn't believe the story until they saw the pics.
I LOVE this story !

[sabrina 1]

80. Thank you for that information.

I would love to read that story.

'Apparently bears understand dog' Lol! That was a very trusting dog, or else, whatever he 'said' to the bear, made the bear very happy which means that that particular dog understands bears. :-)

[burrowowl]

81. Pretty amazing!

[SalmonChantedEvening]

83. Magnificent. :)