If your bear friend is having a tough day, what can you do? Give them some extra love! That’s exactly what happened in this heartwarming story when a man decided to comfort a 1,400-pound Kodiak bear with a big bear hug.
Meet Jim Kowalczik and his bear friend, Kimbo, the Kodiak bear. Jim used to work in corrections, and his wife Susan has spent many years working closely with bears. They started the Orphaned Wildlife Center in Otisville, N.Y., where they’ve cared for many bears and other small ground animals.
Image source: Orphaned Wildlife Cente
On their 100-acre land, they have 11 bears, which include black, brown, and Kodiak bears. The biggest among them is Jimbo, who weighs an impressive 1400 pounds and stands at about 9 and a half feet tall.
Jim and Kimbo have a special connection, and they’ve been companions for a long time. Jim began caring for Kimbo when he was a small cub. The wildlife park where Kimbo was born shut down, and since Kimbo was born in captivity, going back to the wild wasn’t an option for him.
Image source: Orphaned Wildlife Center
Even though he’s really big, Jimbo is always seen as a friendly giant because he has a gentle nature. Jim and Susan adore Jimbo and consider the bear family as just that—family. “The bears are like our children,” they said, underlining the love and connection they share with these amazing creatures.
Now, let’s jump ahead to when Jimbo turned 24. Sadly, Kimbo had to deal with an unknown illness and returned from a vet appointment feeling quite upset. Without hesitation, Jim decided to give his huge friend a comforting bear hug. To Jim, hugging was a simple way of showing love to his favorite ones, and Kimbo was already a cherished member of the family, deserving of this heartwarming embrace.
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