Posted on 03/07/2013 11:06:10 AM PST by marthemaria
Grizzly man Mark Dumas and Agee the polar bear do everything together.
They swim together, wrestle together, roll in the grass together... even nap together.
They have been polar pals since Agee was six weeks old and the colossal mammal even lived in Mark's home as a cub where she played with the family dogs and was bottle fed. Mark, 60, said: 'If anyone else tried this they would end up as Agee's dinner. ‘I have worked with bears in this way for over 40 years, so I can read Agee's body language and know how to behave safely around her.'
And as this incredible video shows the fearless bear handler from Abbotsford, British Columbia, is inseparable from his polar pal.
‘The only people in the whole world she likes are me and my wife. Mark and wife Dawn, 60, train the 60-stone (800lb) friendly beast - the world's largest land predator - to star in high-budget TV adverts.
She has even performed in movies like 'Alaska' in 1995 when she was just a few weeks old.
With his incredibly intimate bond Mark wrestles on the grass with Agee, kisses her, puts his head in her huge jaws, and even bear hugs her as she rears up on her hind legs to over seven feet.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Well, I would say this guy is a little better off than Grizzly Man. This guy is palling around with just one bear, and so he has a better chance that the bear will behave consistently and predictably. GM was hanging out in the wild with any bears that passed through, so he had know way of knowing how the next bear would react to him.
With predators, the key, I think, is that they are never taught to hunt, so they never learn to see humans, or other animals, as food. Even that won’t stop them from ever attacking you, because they have defensive instincts, but at least it may keep them from plotting to eat you.
Fair enough.
The power of polar bears is awesome..They pile drive through several feet of ice and snow to grab seals. Even if the bear is happy, and just playing, it can’t control its own strength. One inadvertent “pet” with those paws will kill the guy...
‘Cuz it’s been good to him...so far.
Right on all points, IMO.
Very true. And when it comes to cats, big and small, the chase instinct can be triggered simply by turning your back and walking away.
Very cool...Best keep his pet happy and fed well.
That is exactly what I was thinking. These animals are so large and powerful, that even “playful” actions that are not intended to do harm can surely bust up a comparatively puny human. I watch my wife’s two dogs “wrestle” with each other, and I can just imagine that sort of play scaled up to the size of a Polar Bear. Yeouch!
His last name says it all.
The woods I live across the road from and hike in nearly every day are part of the territory of a mountain lion-I stay out of the deepest part of the woods when alone, and if I see fresh tracks, I walk backwards to the main trail, swinging a stick and singing loudly. That has only happened twice in 6 years, but just the same...
Yep, no need to slip up on him and startle him...Viking Kitties don’t like to be startled.
What could go wrong? :-)
Life’s been good to him... so far.
Any predator capable of hauling a 15 foot, 3000 pound Beluga Whale out of the water onto the ice, killing and eating it would easily make a light snack of a man...
This is an animal to be viewed through heavy bars or very thick safety glass...Not play “patty cake” with...
If I ever find myself in the vicinity of a Polar Bear, I want a very large caliber rifle in hand...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.