Wildfires are a devastating threat not only to forests, but also to the countless animals that inhabit them. As the flames advance, these living beings struggle to find shelter and safety, often with tragic consequences. The speed and ferocity of fires can catch local wildlife off guard, forcing them to flee in a desperate race for their lives.
In this context of desolation, moving stories of survival and empathy emerge, such as that of a bear cub who clung to his human rescuer after being rescued from a fire, in a video recorded in 2020 that has touched the hearts of thousands of users. of social networks.
The clip shows a bear cub running towards a man and hugging his legs tightly. While the individual tries to walk, the bear continues to follow him and refuses to let go so he doesn’t leave. In 15 seconds, the recording demonstrates the strong bond that can be created in difficult moments between humans and animals.
Although the location of the rescue is not specified, the small text that accompanies the video clearly indicates that the man saved the bear cub from the flames, which explains the behavior of the little bear. Additionally, you can clearly see that there is a large amount of smoke at the scene.
Bears are animals that have shown to have quite developed cognitive abilities. Research has shown that bears possess long-term memory, problem-solving abilities, and some behaviors that suggest forms of empathy.
For example, Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield of the Wildlife Research Institute have observed that black bears display behaviors that could be interpreted as gratitude or affection, such as seeking companionship and physical contact after receiving help from other bears or humans.
However, interpreting these behaviors as gratitude requires caution, as animals do not possess the human language and social constructs to express these emotions explicitly.
