Orphaned Bear Gets Reunited With Her Human Rescuer After Years Apart
Sonya the bear had a reunion that was years in the making, and it turned out to be every bit as sweet as it sounds. The 800-pound resident of the Orphaned Wildlife Center in Otisville, New York, once arrived there as an orphaned cub after her mother died, and Jonathan became one of the people who cared for her through those early days.
Over time, the two formed a close bond, and Sonya has remained at the center because she cannot be released into the wild. When Jonathan came back for a surprise visit after years away, nobody knew whether the bear would remember him, but her reaction answered that fast.
And once Sonya spotted him, the reunion got adorable in a hurry. Read on.
Sonya arrived at the Orphaned Wildlife Center in Otisville, New York, when she was a cub, after her mother died.
And she was cared for by Jonathan.
They've formed a strong bond. Sonya lives permanently in the wildlife center, as she is unable to be released into the wild. Jonathan came to visit her after many years.
Sonya’s story feels similar to Eve’s, the hairless black bear rescued from a dumpster after severe mange.
That reunion was already looking pretty special.
Watch the video of their reunion:
The video was shared with a caption:
"This was one 'beary' sweet reunion. Sonya - a female bear rescued by the Orphaned Wildlife Center in Otisville, New York - was overjoyed when she was reunited with the caretaker who raised her.
Her foster father, Jonathan, had not visited the facility in several years, but the adult bear recognized him and even appeared to remember the fun game the pair played when she was a cub."
Sonya clearly had no trouble remembering him.
From the video, it's evident that Sonya not only knew the man who raised her but that she was thrilled to see him again. Animals consider their belly their most vulnerable spot.
The fact that Sonya is revealing her belly to Jonathan shows just how much she trusts him. We guess he deserves this trust.
When she was a small cub, Jonathan used to be one of her caretakers. She has not seen him for many, many years, but recently he came to visit her to see if she would remember him. She not only remembered Jonathan but also remembered the game they used to play when she was small.
They hugged and played together like they always did. This is truly a wonderful story, and Jonathan deserves praise for his commitment.
Some reunions really do stick with you.
After Sonya’s reunion, see how a man raised an orphaned grizzly and built an unbreakable bond.
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