Just outside your door, this world is full of natural wonders for us to enjoy and appreciate. Between amazing aquatic features like the Great Barrier Reef to the impressive peaks of Mount Everest, the number of beautiful landscapes available for our viewing pleasure seems endless. Nonetheless, all of these incredible views would certainly seem to lack something if they weren’t also teeming with wildlife. Even though we have fun, domesticated animals like dogs, cats, fish, and even exotic birds, we experience something truly profound when we encounter wild animals in their natural habitat.
Mother Bear
In this thrilling story, we’ll adventure alongside a mother bear and her two cubs as they face the hardships and trials of a freezing Russian environment. One terrible day, they tried to swim across an icy lake, and yet perhaps the task seemed easier than it turned out to be. Soon after entering the inhospitable waters, the mother bear quickly learned to her chagrin that she was a much more advanced swimmer than her two babies.
When she did the unthinkable, everything we know about motherly instincts was turned on its head!
Heartbreaking Tale
Buckle in for a tale that will vigorously tug at your heartstrings. Throughout this telling, we will explore the theme of love, and you’ll soon become aware of the concurrent existence of so many different loving relationships.
You may now think that the closest bond is between mother and child—yet, after this story, you may be wondering whether this still holds true. When this mother bear surprised the world to save her own hide by surrendering her own precious cubs, someone else was called in to save the day.
Can you guess the identity of this new hero? Surely, a new love was formed on that fateful day.
Lake Vygozero
The scene is set in northwestern Russia, in Karelia, on the banks of a freshwater lake known as Lake Vygozero. This lake is absolutely freezing; the temperature even hits -20 degrees Celsius at times, or -4 Fahrenheit. This temperature is obviously way too cold for any living being to enjoy a nice swim.
Besides the subzero temperatures, this lake is also massive. This makes it a danger for fishermen and wildlife alike…as you shall realize very shortly.
On the Edge
No matter your conditions, whether you’re a rugged human outlander or a wild animal native to these parts, life in the wild is never an easy task. This is certainly true for this harrowing tale of these mammals who tried to brave the lake.
This sad mother bear brought her two cub right to the edge, and, for some reason, was intent on making it across. Unfortunately, her ambitions may have been just too much for her cubs to handle.
Falling Behind
Without thinking twice, the mother bear plunged into the freezing water with her two cubs, simply figuring that they should be able to keep up. As they paddled across those inhospitable waters, it became frighteningly clear from the get-go that the little ones weren’t cut out for such a monumental task. She must have realized this when she saw those poor babes struggling for dear life.
Let Loose
Though many a nature lover has heard stories or witnessed themselves the incredible bravery and sacrifices that mother bears have made for their cubs, carrying them across all varieties of harmful lands, it seems that this momma wasn’t one of that club. She must have had plans of her own. Once she saw that these little cubs couldn’t stay afloat, she just let them loose and swam by herself. It’s difficult to comprehend how any mother could act in such a way, but perhaps this is the way of the wild.
Powerful Current
Though it’s terrible to think about, don’t jump to conclusions just yet. This bear really did try holding onto her babies, but, since the current in the lake pulled with such vast intensity, it tore them apart against her will. Once parted, the mother knew that she had no choice in the matter, that they were beyond her salvation, and so she put her head down, prayed, and continued onto shore. Eventually, she found dry land and cast her gaze back across the lake, searching for her babies.
We Need a Miracle
Let’s go back to the cubs before we go any further. They have been desperately trying to keep hold of their mother, just trying to survive, when she basically abandoned them to destruction. Not only was this lake super chilly, these cubs hadn’t even learned how to swim yet. As their energy rapidly drained from their frigid bodies, they prayed for a miracle.
On the Brink
Imagine what these poor baby bears must have felt at this moment. What does one think of when one’s life is on the brink? Though they may not have the same thoughts that a human being would in this situation, these living creatures have feelings to be sure, at we can be sure that they must have been incredibly afraid. They were struggling to tread water, even without any training, and hope seemed to be running thin. As despair reared its ugly head, the tides would shift and give them some much-needed grace.
Rescue Was on Its Way
Right when the cubs were on the brink of the afterlife, a boat drove into sight. If these cubs could talk, they surely would have screamed out, “help! Help!” Yet these watermen didn’t need any signal, as they saw them struggling for their lives. Once the bears saw the boat, they tried to move towards this chance at salvation.
Tired Bears
These fishermen may have set sail in hopes of filling their boat with fresh fish, though fate ordained that they would be bringing to shore a very different type of animal on this day. As they approached the cubs, they became aware of just how dire the situation was. These cubs, struggling to keep their heads above the water, were obviously fatigued.
Even though they hadn’t expected to face anything like this, they couldn’t just turn away and ignore them. They had to spring into action!
A Safe Distance
Even though they were determined to rescue these perilous children, they had but one issue. They saw that the mother bear was still close by, and, even though this mama had left her own cubs to drown, they figured that she probably still felt the same motherly instinct to protect her young. They feared her retaliation if they got too close to the babies.
Rather than head straight for the cubs, they waited until the mother bear was a safe distance away, then cautiously approached.
Quick Thinking
While they were waiting for a good distance from the mother, they were doing some quick thinking about saving the cubs. They had many questions, like what they would do even if they did save them. How would they handle them on board the simple? There were many unanswered questions that, as the situation turned from bad to worse, they had no time to answer. They had to act now or forever regret it.
Bring Out the Camera
Among the haste and confusion, one of the fishermen had the foresight to pull out his camera and capture everything on tape. As the Cubs got closer to the boat, he ran for his smartphone and started to record the entire interaction. Very soon, he captured the scene as one cub was so close that he tried to grab hold of the edge of the boat with his paw.
An Ingenious Plan
As the cub tried to grab hold of the boat and pull himself up, it was just too high for his small, tired body to manage. He was so weak from trying to stay afloat that all of his efforts were in vain.
Thankfully, one of the fishermen had an ingenious plan. Without hesitating, he looked around at his fishing gear and figured that maybe he could use a tool to help save the bear. Still too far from the bear, time was running out.
Take a Bite Out of This
Though the fisherman’s genius couldn’t save the bear right away, some quick thinking on the cub’s part saved its fur from imminent doom. As everyone knows, bear teeth are powerful and strong, and so the cub decided to use this great weapon to his advantage. He started chomping down on the side of the boat, getting some traction—at least for a moment, he held fast to the boat!
Not Close Enough
Even with the cub’s firm grasp on the boat with his teeth, they were just too far away from the deck to make it up. They needed help from the fishermen, who, though they feared this wild beast, reported that “they just couldn’t look the other way.”
They couldn’t bear the thought of these innocent babies being lost to the merciless depths of the cold lake. They knew they wanted to help, and they knew that they had to help quickly. They couldn’t wait any longer.
They Needed Trust
Though they were too far away from the cubs to grab ahold of them, they feared to get too close. There was always the chance that they would slip and be attacked by the bears. They needed something special to make this daring rescue possible. They needed to trust each other.
Unspoken Communication
Then, something magical happened between the fisherman and the cubs. This was the turning point for them; the fishermen looked into the eyes of the cub who had his teeth locked on the boat. They gazed into each other’s souls. As their eyes peered into the depths of each other, they understood that they could trust each other.
The little cub was wordlessly pleading for the fisherman to save his life. He was saying please, please help us…
A Better Plan
Now, the fishermen knew that they wanted to save the cubs. Then it was time to turn that thought into action. Taking the plunge to save them was surely a transcendental moment, one that will stay with the fishermen for their entire lives. This special moment, the moment when words and thoughts turned to deeds, came when they realized the best way to pull the cubs onto the ship. They pulled out their trusty nets.
Time Slipping Away
As time slipped away like sand on the beach, the fishermen tried to harness their nets to save the cubs. However, because these tools were designed for fish, not a heavy mammal, let alone two, they had a hard time with it. They still gave it a shot, throwing the net into the lake, and trying to pull in the cub. They cubs slipped and struggled, staring cold death squarely in the face.
The First Cub
As they grappled with the first cub, trying to pull him aboard, they found him extremely heavy. These fishermen were used to fish, not bears! And, of course, these bears had never been in a net before. What if the bears thought that the fishermen were actually trying to capture them instead of to save them? How would they react when they landed on the deck?
Friendly Speaking
Even though these cubs were utterly helpless in this situation, the fact remains that bears are one of the most fearsome animals on Earth. There was no way of predicting how they might react to this scenario, even to the people who saved their very lives.
Therefore, the fishermen tried to calm the bears down as they pull them in by speaking in a friendly voice. They wanted the baby cubs to see them as nice people who wanted to help instead of frightening foes.
Incredible Weight
The fishermen put all their might into pulling, tugging as hard as they could. Adult bears can weight up to 1,300 pounds and, even though these were mere babies, pulling their incredible weight was clearly a Herculean task for these fishermen.
They were also soaking wet, adding even more weight to their already heavy mass. The fishermen feared that they lacked the strength to pull the cubs into safety, but they kept on pulling and pulling.
One Final Tug
Just as they began to lose all hope, the fishermen mustered all their strength, looked deep into their hearts, and gave it another shot. Slowly, they saw they were making real progress as the first cub crept towards the deck. They were all excited, and nervous—the cub was almost there! One last pull and he would be saved.
On Board
At last, the first cub was safe! Now they knew it was possible, so they tackled the rescue of the second cub with even more vigor. They knew that they could do it again if they could do it once.
Yet this cub posed a new challenge: it was even further away! And, that extra time in the water meant it was more tired, wearier, and even closer to the brink than his brother.
The Second Cub
This baby bear’s life was teetering on the edge, yet the fishermen knew in their hearts that they could save him too. They inched towards him, cast their net into the lake, and tried to grasp him. Because they had become bear-saving veterans at this point, they knew what to do. They wrapped the net around him and hauled him aboard.
All Aboard
Even though the second cub was a bit lighter than the first, they surely had to put their back into it to pull him aboard. Once they had succeeded in their task, both of the cubs were safe and sound. Now, what was the next move? How were they supposed to help them?
A True Miracle
If you pulled up beside this boat and saw two freely walking bears among a group of fishermen, you may have feared for their lives! Or at least thought that they had gone mad!
But, at the end of this story, this situation was a clear cause for celebration. Considering that these cubs would have certainly perished otherwise, it’s truly a miracle that these fishermen came along and saved the day.
Shivering in their Fur
With the cubs safely on board the ship, the fishermen got a chance to get a better look at them. And, when they did, they noticed that they were uncontrollably shivering in their fur, their eyes showing fear and trembling. Not only were they in prolonged contact with insanely cold water, but they were now in contact with strange beings who they had probably never seen before.
The Fishermen’s Next Move
Though they were heartbroken by seeing the fear and chill in these cubs’ hearts since they had surely fallen in love with the baby bears, they knew that they couldn’t keep them. They wanted to help, so they decided to make their next move: return them to their home, dry land. They saw their mother nearby and decided to reunite the family.
Finding the Perfect Spot
They scoured the shore for the perfect spot to drop the cubs. They wanted to go to the island that their mother was on because, even though she had left them to die, of course she wanted nothing more than to be together with her young. They searched for some time and eventually found the place where they had last seen yet. Yet—she was gone out of sight. Where was the mother? And what would she do next??
Eager Anticipation
Each person on that boat was filled with eager anticipation, sitting on the very edge of their seats, as they rowed up to the island. Even the cubs were full of anxiety; their mother was gone, out of sight. Where was she? And, of course, the fishermen were afraid of incurring the wrath of a mother separated with her precious cubs. Yet they were brave. They knew that they had to do the right thing.
Drop Off
They waited for some time for the mama bear to show up, and yet, even though she didn’t show herself, the fishermen knew that she must be close. So, even though it was painful, they decided to say farewell to the cubs that they loved, knowing that it was time to let go. Because the animals were so tired and weak, the fishermen had to carry them to a dry spot that they felt their mother could find them at.
The Last Farewell
After a tearful goodbye, they knew that they and the bears were safe and sound. And, even more than that, they were heroes with a great story, and footage on a camera to prove it! People didn’t have to take them for their word but could see this amazing story for themselves. The fishermen slept easy that night, knowing that they had saved innocent lived and treasuring forever the special bonds that they had formed with these lovely animals.
Happy to Be Alive
Now, take some time to gather inspiration from these brave fishermen. They put life and limb at risk to save a creature that they had no obligation towards. Bears are known for their fearsome viciousness, and, even though these were cubs in a vulnerable position, it was still quite the risk. Yet, by being brave and guiding their actions by the truth of their hearts, they were heroes. These two cubs are still alive today, happily breathing, happy to be alive.