Polar bears have a reputation as one the fiercest predator species in the Arctic, but that didn’t stop this bear from sharing a touching moment with a dog in northern Manitoba on Saturday.
David De Meulles, a tour guide for North Star Tours in Churchill, Man., uploaded a short video of the rare encounter to YouTube on Wednesday. The incredible clip shows a large polar bear lift its huge paw over a dog calmly lying down on some rocks near the icy water.
Then, the unexpected happens. Instead of clawing at the smaller animal, the bear lightly pets the pooch on its head. The nonchalant dog barely moves while the towering bear pats it multiple times with its two front paws.
At one point, a woman behind the camera can be heard exclaiming, “he’s being gentle” about the large bear’s surprisingly tender touch. The lucky group of onlookers can be heard laughing while they watched the special moment.
After the polar bear delivers a few more loving pats, the puppy eventually stands up and walks away.
