This is the moment when a man comforts a 1,400 pound Kodiak bear by giving it a bear hug
Jim Kowalczik has known Kimbo the Kodiak bear for so long, that he didn’t think twice before giving the animal a hug when he was feeling under the weather.
Kowalczik took Jimbo in as a cub after the animal park he was born in was closed. Since he was born in captivity, he couldn’t be let back into the wild.
At the time these pictures and videos were taken, Jimbo was 24 years old, and was suffering from an unknown illness.
He had come back from his recent vet appointment feeling quite agitated, and so Kowalczik came to his aid with some comfort.
Check out the video below:
Looking in from the outside, it seems odd to see, but for Kowalczik, this is just another normal day, “He’s just part of the family now,” Kowalczik said to National Geographic.
Kowalczik, who is a retired correction officer, and his wife Susan have both spent decades working closely with bears.
They founded the Orphaned Wildlife Center in Otisville, N.Y, and have helped rehabilitate many bears and smaller ground animals.
They shared the 100-acre property with 11 bears at the time of this article, including black, brown, and Kodiak bears.
Jimbo is the only permanent resident here, and is by far the largest weighing at 1400lbs and stretching around 9 and a half feet tall.
Despite his towering size, Jimbo is known as a gentle giant due to his soft-hearted nature.
“The bears are like our children,” said the couple. “That’s how much we love them and they give a lot back to you too. They love you just as much. Our bear family is like every other family.”
