A tender moment captured on video between a 1,400-pound bear and his caretaker caught the internet’s attention over the last week.
Jim Kowalczik, who owns the Orphaned Wildlife Center in Otisville, New York, is seen in the clip sweetly cuddling and petting Jimbo, the Kodiak bear.
‘I’m sure you all do the same for your bears when they have had a hard day,’ the caption reads.
Jimbo, at the age of 24, wasn’t feeling his best earlier in February, the organization told ABC News. Kowalczik is seen hugging the bear around the head, gently rocking to and fro, before extending his gloved hand to rub Jimbo along his neck.
He keeps his hand there as he settles in next to the animal, before sitting down completely and removing his glove. Then Kowalczik puts his hand into Jimbo’s mouth, gazing down at him while he licks his hand.
At this point, Jimbo is resting his head squarely on Kowalczik’s though, with his front legs slightly curled, and somewhat underneath the man’s left leg. Kowalczik gives the bear a pat on the snout, before Jimbo turns away from his buddy. The man pets Jimbo a few more times, before the bear bumps him in the leg, prompting him to say, ‘Ow!’ with a bit of a chuckle.
‘What are you doing to me?’ the caretaker is heard saying, with a laugh, before wrapping Jimbo’s head again in an embrace.
The video comes to an end with more loving pats from Kowalczik, and Jimbo settles in again, resting his humongous head in the caretaker’s lap. The group explained that Jimbo, who stands 10 feet tall, had recently completed a veterinary examination.
Jimbo had come down with an unknown illness that left him uncomfortable and agitated, the group told ABC. Kowalczik wanted to show Jimbo ‘some extra love’ and is seen petting him and talking to him softly. Jimbo has been at home at the Orphaned Wildlife Center since he was a cub.
The bear suffered injuries early in life, and was never able to resume living in the wild. Kowalczik is a retired corrections officer who now works in excavating. He owns the Orphaned Wildlife Center with his wife, Susan.
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