The pair are so close they wrestle, kiss, nap and even go swimming with each other.
In a video that's both nerve-wracking and beautiful, Mark Dumas swims with an 800-pound polar bear like it's nothing out of the ordinary.
The experienced animal trainer has been working with Agee the polar bear since she was a cub. According to video released by Barcroft Media, the bear grew up in Dumas' household, where she was bottle-fed and even played with the family's pets.
In the clip, Dumas hugs and kisses the bear like an oversized toy as they continually wrestle on land and in the water.
It's important to point out that exotic animals can be potentially dangerous and shouldn't be kept as pets.
But while some may gawk at Dumas' bold actions in disbelief, the trainer says experience has taught him how to interact with the animal.
"I have worked with bears for 40 years, so I can read Agee’s body language and know how to behave safely," Dumas told the Sun in 2011.
Dumas and his wife, Dawn, own "Beyond Just Bears," a company that trains animals for scenes in movies, television shows and advertisements. The pair have a combined 50 years experience working with animals on set.
Agee, which is touted as the only trained polar bear in North America, has starred in various commercials and even had a role in the movie "Alaska."
According to the company's website, "Beyond Just Bears" has worked with a variety of wild animals, including cougars, wolves and deer.
Nevertheless, the use of animals in the entertainment industry has come under scrutiny after multiple reported incidents of alleged animal abuse and deaths on movie and television sets.
Source
VIDEO Mark Dumas, Animal Trainer, Swims With Polar Bear
wonderful how it would be grt if we could all be friends like that with animals and people..bravo
This video is soooo sweeet, incredible & at least it shows that some of us have kept an open-mind to animals. Needed to create a such a beautiful relationship!
Love, love, love this video. I have always been inspired by the magnificent polar bear. This is one lucky guy!
Absolutely wonderful! I had seen a video and some still shots of a polar bear in the arctic that came and played with the sled dogs every morning, till they had to move on. It is wonderful to see that someone has actually had a long lasting relationship with a Polar. We have always been told how mean and vicious they are. Humbug!
wow ! you crazy or brave or both .. LOL
It is commendable that this man has devoted so much time and attention to this polar bear. It is only when any animal needs to get it's basic needs filled - food!, habitat!, privacy to nurture off spring! - that they are 'mean'. Unless of course, they are abused - which seems to be an accepted 'human trait'. Humans hunt animals for food - is that mean? all creatures should be respected for what they really are - not exploited for profit. The ego, audacity if you will, of man capturing, displaying creatures for 'education', thrills - is disgusting to me. What comes to mind are the huge aquariums filled with beautiful whales, etc. - so unnatural, so unhealthy. But all animals are just game for profit - just like humans are now. I love all Earth's creatures - respect them, wish we were not killing them with our greed(oil, chemicals, furs, ivory, etc.) but, that is human nature - so say we all who allow this to happen.
People who keep exotic pets usually end up on the menu...eventually.
La mejor forma de explicar el verdadero espíritu de los animales hacia los hombres que los respetan.
You should put good music with this great moment....
They look alike!
That is so cool!! I love it!! :)
I absolutely love this! Never seen anything like this before.They are really and truly best friends!Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely cool.....they are such a beautiful animal!
it is called living in harmony with our creature friends. Most animals can be trained to respond to human connection and they have more natural instinct to protect than most people have. It is sad that humans feel so superior to all God's creation that they want to destroy what is good and healthy relationships,all in the name of capitalism.
thank you for showing this so awesome so good to see animals and people getting along!
absolutely amazing! The polar bear is the world's largest and most dangerous land carnivore. Yet you can bring him up to be a friend and a playmate! This is a testimony to the intelligence and sociability of this incredible animal and the skill and personality of his human friend! Congratulations! :)
I wish I was Mark.
Pure Awesomeness
Soooooo wonderful. Great man!!! Soon there will be no polarbears left if we continue with our destruction of the earth.. Grrrrrr!!!