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Unusual Friendship Between Wolf And Bear Documented By Finnish Photographer
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“It’s very unusual to see a bear and a wolf getting on like this” says Finnish photographer Lassi Rautiainen, 56, who took these surprising photos. The female grey wolf and male brown were spotted every night for ten days straight, spending several hours together between 8pm and 4am. They would even share food with each other.
“No-one can know exactly why or how the young wolf and bear became friends,” Lassi told the Daily Mail. “I think that perhaps they were both alone and they were young and a bit unsure of how to survive alone…It is nice to share rare events in the wild that you would never expect to see.”
More info: gallowbob | wildfinland.org | Facebook
“It’s very unusual to see a bear and a wolf getting on like this”
This unlikely pair was spotted by Finnish photographer Lassi Rautiainen
He photographed the female grey wolf and male brown bear every night for ten days straight
“No one had observed bears and wolves living near each other and becoming friends in Europe”
The two “friends” were even seen sharing food
“No one can know exactly why or how the young wolf and bear became friends”
“I think that perhaps they were both alone when they were young and a bit unsure of how to survive alone”
“I came across these two and knew that it made the perfect story”
“It seems to me that they feel safe being together”
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Speechless about the story, and your pictures are breathtaking
Amazing story. So glad you shared.
Awesome.
How privileged you were in capturing this awesome pair....loved it all
WE ALL NEED A FRIEND AND IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT SHAPE OR COLOUR THEY ARE , IT JUST FEELS GOOD TO KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
What wonderful photographs and such an intriguing story...
Simply amazing! Nature shows us how improbable friends can be best friends!!
Real Disney fair
Photographs of a lifetime
Beautiful photos. Amazing story!
A lovely story and wonderful photos! But please let nobody know where you've found these best friends. There are so many sick people around that would probably going on a hunt or do other things to this great animals. So keep this secret for you and enjoy this marvelous moments!
We dont do stuff lie that Finland we respect the nature
But horrible people from other countries do horrible things.
Love it! Especially when they're playing with each other.
This one actually deserves the comment - Still a better love story than Twilight !
Superb photography. A MOST unusual friendship, but certainly shows with the right circumstances, we can all get along. Both these animals are exquisite representatives of their species. Thanks to this photographer for sharing this astonishing story. Now, all someone has to do is write a children's book because there is a very important lesson to learn here!
Highlight of my Internet day!
Astounding and the photos are incredible
WOW, I'm floored, this is what, "The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth." is all about. Thank You for the Photos.
That's something I've never seen and quite beautiful. Animals have a lot of "human" traits...why not friendship?
Amazing! Animals are a GIFT on this planet...and humans need to protect them, not hunt them or destroy their habitat. I am so sick our species! I celebrate animals and nature and have no problem loving them unconditionally!
This is amazing for me cause I had a dream with a bear and a wolf (he was a male) and they became my Power animals :)
fantastic story
Truly deserving of the word "Awesome!"
Wonderful. And wee humans presume to know everything about nature and how it works. Piffle to that, I say. Piffle.
It's a miracle. Now I want to see a wolf and rooster become best friends.
We the supposed intelligent humans, can't live together. We can learn a lot from the other species, we share this earth with!!!!!
In the US some a$$hole would try to shoot them.
I wish this could reflect my love life.
The wolf was the first animal to adopt man, too bad man never learned how to co-exist with all animals.
Incroyable et magnifique. Merci
You must have felt some serious soul stirring, life changing emotions seeing them together this way. Gives me hope for humanity
I love wolves and bears and I actually read a book (fictional) where this happened......coincidence, I think not ^^
Sometimes you need a friend
Such a beautiful story. I have come across a few of these remarkable friendships in my life. Somehow, they give me hope. Now, I wish that I had saved them all from the beginning. Wonderful photos of a rare and wonderful view of life. Thank you.
I can't believe these pictures…they defy science & our understanding of the wild world. They're magnificent.
I love these two friends! And thanks to the photographer!
my soul sings when I see this beautiful gift of friendship. We are all connected.
Your photos are really showing the lost of tendentes between them so sensitiva to the Human eye got in to my heart surge to the animals lovers..thanks for sharing..
it just goes to show that all creatures are more complex then what people think
amazing ,animals can teach humans a few things
Seems like if a bear and wolf can do this humans beings, as a whole, should be able to as well.
This goes againts the laws of nature i thought, this is heartwarming to see, and proof that animals have souls, and feelings, like we do!
Nature has no bounds
An amazing story with equally amazing photos
Amazing - animals will surprise you every time! They are much "smarter" than we give them credit for!
About twenty-five years ago, in an Oregon roadside "zoo", a monkey opened his cage and escaped. Two days latter he came back and let the wolf in the next cage go The two were spotted several times, but that was before everyone had a cell phone camera. Always wondered what happened to them. :)
love the pictures 2 majestic animals love wolves and bears to bad we kill them were I live
Just amazing! We need stories like this to warm our hearts as there are so many horrific things happening out there to these beautiful creatures, Thank you!!
Living as they should free in nature
Wow!!it's really impossible to think this will happen in real life..only in fantasy story and children book but alas!!it's true and it happens...amazing friendship...
Friends can be found in all shapes and forms...
i think we can learn from them, how to be open and unafraid to love. i liked the pics where they are playing the best.
If only people behaved more like animals.
we can learn a lot from the animals
I love these kinds of stories!...and obviously the wolf knows he needs to watch it with the bear....
Pure magic. I think every photog in the world would love to capture scenes like these. GREAT job and thanks for sharing.
A lonely soul is a lonely soul, no matter what skin their wearing. Its a beautiful story ♥
...shame the human race can't manage this kind of friendship...
...shame we can't do the same...
Wow! This is something unique indeed! Such different animals getting along with each other!
Anything is possible, Just because our minds say it can not happen does not mean it won't. Friends are friends, no matter.
this is amazing for me, cause I had a dream with a bear and a owl and they become my Power Animals !
How do I buy original size files to print or are some already for sale?
They had to meet like this because neither set of parents approved of them dating.
I hope humans leave them alone to enjoy their lives in peace.
its not really that rare, wolves and bears have quite an interesting history, but the story should not come from me...
beautiful to see...where was this???
Maybe they were someone's zoo /circus animals and they got dumped in the woods together.
Baloo and Akela.
Love hearing about stuff like this. Plus your pictures a not only beautiful but a wonderful addition to the story. Thanks for sharing it!
Wow. While I've read about a lioness "befriending" and caring for plains antelope, this is a new sort of combination. I'm really floored to see it, thank you for sharing the photos!
Formidabile !
Nature have her own ways! It must off been such experience for the photographer, capturing these rear moments.
OMG! That is like Faolan and Thunderheart in Wolves of the Beyond! You are really good at taking pics.
In the US some asshole would try to shoot them.
Keep sharin', these rare pics.
nothing is written before in the wild nature!
This is my favorite story of anything I have ever read or seen.
Great photography!
Great!!
i guess it was just a bear necessity.
It's amazing...... That's ecology...... Plants and animals working together to help One another!
Awesome thanks for sharing
so cute
very interesting wisch everybody would act that way
Great story! But I don't think all that unusual... I mean, you see it in Disney movies all the time! LOL :)
Awww i lowt bears and wolfa
Stunning!
Berserker and Ulfhednar
wonderful,animals can teach humans a few things
Just keep American dentists away from them and everything will be just fine.
Different
Tears of love and joy fill my heart, so beautiful.
SPLENDID!
Great photos but ehy are you using them without photographer 's permission?
can we buy copies of these pictures?
http://www.articmedia.fi/ buy them from the source and please support the photographer. Boredpanda used his photos without permission and didn't compensate at all.
Stark and Mormont.
Baloo and Mowgli (looking more like the wolves that raised him every day).
maybe the wolf found the bear as a cub and took him in?
<3!
Beautiful story, I love it !!
that is the experience of a lifetime. beautiful pictures, almost surreal.thanks for sharing.
Nature and the Animals are Changing due to man's presents and taking away their space. They have and are learning to evolve and adapt. As in the Grizzly Bear and Black Bear mating. Or is it the Polar Bear and Black Bear? I think that's it. Or both. And wild animals in suburban areas. Really they where there first. But now people want to kill them and set up traps. The Animals are just trying their best to survive. Good luck to them. Last night something got into a birdfeeder I had on the ground, raised up a little because the wire broke, and ate all the seed. I'm not mad. I just bought a new one today. The animal must of had a good easy meal. Good for her.
Beautiful.
People probably killed the wolve's pack and the bears family. Very nice photos
Beautiful photos and quite amazing story - thanks for sharing!
Lovely pictures. Amazing story. Amazing animals. They will always surprise and teach us something new. Thanks to the photographer.
Thanks for letting us know this story!
I wonder which one is the Alpha guy
So very beautiful to see them interconnected. Wonderful photos!
Animals need friends too sometimes , beautiful pictures by the way thank you
Inspiring - thank you for sharing!
That's very interesting indeed. What type of food were they sharing? Dr Valerie Jonckheer-Sheehy, Animalytics www.animalytics.nl
What a beautiful story of life in the wild. Such a touching story.
Touching
huntmate
Wunderbar
Story as if from Curwood
Amazing and beautiful story and photos...
Nahima Chain, said it.
So endearing! Sharing!
Strength of the Bear, Ears of the wolf - Marshall Bravestarr would be proud :)
Spectacular photos. The bear and the wolf could teach us humans lessons about living together and all surviving.
Great photos! Amazing story. First I've heard of this. Didn't think such a relationship between these wild animals could happen. Love it!
Great story, beautiful pictures, thanks for a 'good feel' story.
I envy them!!
awessssoommmee!! :3
You go to a zoo and all the animals are in separate pens. Biology classes stress different taxonomies. So we aren't used to thinking about different species living together.
If a bear and a wolf can do this type of behavior you would think humans could. Fantastic photos!
Very interesting photos, and I would guess it happens more in the animal world than we think.
Wow, amazing, thanks Lassi.
Love it
That's awesome! Your so lucky to have been able to witness this. Outstanding!
Nature is stunning!!
What an awesome story! Thank you for sharing:)
Beautiful!
Outstanding! Nature is pretty! I come to think of Winnie the Pooh and the story "Us Two": " - - - It isn't much fun for One, but Two, Can stick together, says Pooh, says he. "That's how it is," says Pooh."
It's just heartwarming to see them being friends like this... it will be such a sad day when one of them dies & leaves the other alone again <3
Incredible pictures, thank you for this article.
Beautiful ! LOVE LOVE LOVE this !
Gorgeous shots!
Sweetest thing ever!
This is simply amazing. Buddies for life.
These pictures belong to Lassi Rautiainen and if you publish them, you should contact Lassi Rautiainen before publising. It is not fare or right to take advantage of somebody else's work.
I'm hoping you are going to compensate the photographer when using his pictures. Another example of blatant copyright infringement and ignorance.
And did you, Boredpanda, have permission and a contract to publish these photographs? Did you compensate the photographer for using these images? Didn't think so. So how about you send him a check. I'm sure you can afford it considering the ad revenue you made from all these visitors.
There are probably more inter-species friendships than we know -- just because we don't see them, doesn't mean that they don't happen. Man is the only creature that is automatically and irrationally vicious toward his fellow creatures.
Speechless about the story, and your pictures are breathtaking
Amazing story. So glad you shared.
Awesome.
How privileged you were in capturing this awesome pair....loved it all
WE ALL NEED A FRIEND AND IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT SHAPE OR COLOUR THEY ARE , IT JUST FEELS GOOD TO KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
What wonderful photographs and such an intriguing story...
Simply amazing! Nature shows us how improbable friends can be best friends!!
Real Disney fair
Photographs of a lifetime
Beautiful photos. Amazing story!
A lovely story and wonderful photos! But please let nobody know where you've found these best friends. There are so many sick people around that would probably going on a hunt or do other things to this great animals. So keep this secret for you and enjoy this marvelous moments!
We dont do stuff lie that Finland we respect the nature
But horrible people from other countries do horrible things.
Love it! Especially when they're playing with each other.
This one actually deserves the comment - Still a better love story than Twilight !
Superb photography. A MOST unusual friendship, but certainly shows with the right circumstances, we can all get along. Both these animals are exquisite representatives of their species. Thanks to this photographer for sharing this astonishing story. Now, all someone has to do is write a children's book because there is a very important lesson to learn here!
Highlight of my Internet day!
Astounding and the photos are incredible
WOW, I'm floored, this is what, "The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth." is all about. Thank You for the Photos.
That's something I've never seen and quite beautiful. Animals have a lot of "human" traits...why not friendship?
Amazing! Animals are a GIFT on this planet...and humans need to protect them, not hunt them or destroy their habitat. I am so sick our species! I celebrate animals and nature and have no problem loving them unconditionally!
This is amazing for me cause I had a dream with a bear and a wolf (he was a male) and they became my Power animals :)
fantastic story
Truly deserving of the word "Awesome!"
Wonderful. And wee humans presume to know everything about nature and how it works. Piffle to that, I say. Piffle.
It's a miracle. Now I want to see a wolf and rooster become best friends.
We the supposed intelligent humans, can't live together. We can learn a lot from the other species, we share this earth with!!!!!
In the US some a$$hole would try to shoot them.
I wish this could reflect my love life.
The wolf was the first animal to adopt man, too bad man never learned how to co-exist with all animals.
Incroyable et magnifique. Merci
You must have felt some serious soul stirring, life changing emotions seeing them together this way. Gives me hope for humanity
I love wolves and bears and I actually read a book (fictional) where this happened......coincidence, I think not ^^
Sometimes you need a friend
Such a beautiful story. I have come across a few of these remarkable friendships in my life. Somehow, they give me hope. Now, I wish that I had saved them all from the beginning. Wonderful photos of a rare and wonderful view of life. Thank you.
I can't believe these pictures…they defy science & our understanding of the wild world. They're magnificent.
I love these two friends! And thanks to the photographer!
my soul sings when I see this beautiful gift of friendship. We are all connected.
Your photos are really showing the lost of tendentes between them so sensitiva to the Human eye got in to my heart surge to the animals lovers..thanks for sharing..
it just goes to show that all creatures are more complex then what people think
amazing ,animals can teach humans a few things
Seems like if a bear and wolf can do this humans beings, as a whole, should be able to as well.
This goes againts the laws of nature i thought, this is heartwarming to see, and proof that animals have souls, and feelings, like we do!
Nature has no bounds
An amazing story with equally amazing photos
Amazing - animals will surprise you every time! They are much "smarter" than we give them credit for!
About twenty-five years ago, in an Oregon roadside "zoo", a monkey opened his cage and escaped. Two days latter he came back and let the wolf in the next cage go The two were spotted several times, but that was before everyone had a cell phone camera. Always wondered what happened to them. :)
love the pictures 2 majestic animals love wolves and bears to bad we kill them were I live
Just amazing! We need stories like this to warm our hearts as there are so many horrific things happening out there to these beautiful creatures, Thank you!!
Living as they should free in nature
Wow!!it's really impossible to think this will happen in real life..only in fantasy story and children book but alas!!it's true and it happens...amazing friendship...
Friends can be found in all shapes and forms...
i think we can learn from them, how to be open and unafraid to love. i liked the pics where they are playing the best.
If only people behaved more like animals.
we can learn a lot from the animals
I love these kinds of stories!...and obviously the wolf knows he needs to watch it with the bear....
Pure magic. I think every photog in the world would love to capture scenes like these. GREAT job and thanks for sharing.
A lonely soul is a lonely soul, no matter what skin their wearing. Its a beautiful story ♥
...shame the human race can't manage this kind of friendship...
...shame we can't do the same...
Wow! This is something unique indeed! Such different animals getting along with each other!
Anything is possible, Just because our minds say it can not happen does not mean it won't. Friends are friends, no matter.
this is amazing for me, cause I had a dream with a bear and a owl and they become my Power Animals !
How do I buy original size files to print or are some already for sale?
They had to meet like this because neither set of parents approved of them dating.
I hope humans leave them alone to enjoy their lives in peace.
its not really that rare, wolves and bears have quite an interesting history, but the story should not come from me...
beautiful to see...where was this???
Maybe they were someone's zoo /circus animals and they got dumped in the woods together.
Baloo and Akela.
Love hearing about stuff like this. Plus your pictures a not only beautiful but a wonderful addition to the story. Thanks for sharing it!
Wow. While I've read about a lioness "befriending" and caring for plains antelope, this is a new sort of combination. I'm really floored to see it, thank you for sharing the photos!
Formidabile !
Nature have her own ways! It must off been such experience for the photographer, capturing these rear moments.
OMG! That is like Faolan and Thunderheart in Wolves of the Beyond! You are really good at taking pics.
In the US some asshole would try to shoot them.
Keep sharin', these rare pics.
nothing is written before in the wild nature!
This is my favorite story of anything I have ever read or seen.
Great photography!
Great!!
i guess it was just a bear necessity.
It's amazing...... That's ecology...... Plants and animals working together to help One another!
Awesome thanks for sharing
so cute
very interesting wisch everybody would act that way
Great story! But I don't think all that unusual... I mean, you see it in Disney movies all the time! LOL :)
Awww i lowt bears and wolfa
Stunning!
Berserker and Ulfhednar
wonderful,animals can teach humans a few things
Just keep American dentists away from them and everything will be just fine.
Different
Tears of love and joy fill my heart, so beautiful.
SPLENDID!
Great photos but ehy are you using them without photographer 's permission?
can we buy copies of these pictures?
http://www.articmedia.fi/ buy them from the source and please support the photographer. Boredpanda used his photos without permission and didn't compensate at all.
Stark and Mormont.
Baloo and Mowgli (looking more like the wolves that raised him every day).
maybe the wolf found the bear as a cub and took him in?
<3!
Beautiful story, I love it !!
that is the experience of a lifetime. beautiful pictures, almost surreal.thanks for sharing.
Nature and the Animals are Changing due to man's presents and taking away their space. They have and are learning to evolve and adapt. As in the Grizzly Bear and Black Bear mating. Or is it the Polar Bear and Black Bear? I think that's it. Or both. And wild animals in suburban areas. Really they where there first. But now people want to kill them and set up traps. The Animals are just trying their best to survive. Good luck to them. Last night something got into a birdfeeder I had on the ground, raised up a little because the wire broke, and ate all the seed. I'm not mad. I just bought a new one today. The animal must of had a good easy meal. Good for her.
Beautiful.
People probably killed the wolve's pack and the bears family. Very nice photos
Beautiful photos and quite amazing story - thanks for sharing!
Lovely pictures. Amazing story. Amazing animals. They will always surprise and teach us something new. Thanks to the photographer.
Thanks for letting us know this story!
I wonder which one is the Alpha guy
So very beautiful to see them interconnected. Wonderful photos!
Animals need friends too sometimes , beautiful pictures by the way thank you
Inspiring - thank you for sharing!
That's very interesting indeed. What type of food were they sharing? Dr Valerie Jonckheer-Sheehy, Animalytics www.animalytics.nl
What a beautiful story of life in the wild. Such a touching story.
Touching
huntmate
Wunderbar
Story as if from Curwood
Amazing and beautiful story and photos...
Nahima Chain, said it.
So endearing! Sharing!
Strength of the Bear, Ears of the wolf - Marshall Bravestarr would be proud :)
Spectacular photos. The bear and the wolf could teach us humans lessons about living together and all surviving.
Great photos! Amazing story. First I've heard of this. Didn't think such a relationship between these wild animals could happen. Love it!
Great story, beautiful pictures, thanks for a 'good feel' story.
I envy them!!
awessssoommmee!! :3
You go to a zoo and all the animals are in separate pens. Biology classes stress different taxonomies. So we aren't used to thinking about different species living together.
If a bear and a wolf can do this type of behavior you would think humans could. Fantastic photos!
Very interesting photos, and I would guess it happens more in the animal world than we think.
Wow, amazing, thanks Lassi.
Love it
That's awesome! Your so lucky to have been able to witness this. Outstanding!
Nature is stunning!!
What an awesome story! Thank you for sharing:)
Beautiful!
Outstanding! Nature is pretty! I come to think of Winnie the Pooh and the story "Us Two": " - - - It isn't much fun for One, but Two, Can stick together, says Pooh, says he. "That's how it is," says Pooh."
It's just heartwarming to see them being friends like this... it will be such a sad day when one of them dies & leaves the other alone again <3
Incredible pictures, thank you for this article.
Beautiful ! LOVE LOVE LOVE this !
Gorgeous shots!
Sweetest thing ever!
This is simply amazing. Buddies for life.
These pictures belong to Lassi Rautiainen and if you publish them, you should contact Lassi Rautiainen before publising. It is not fare or right to take advantage of somebody else's work.
I'm hoping you are going to compensate the photographer when using his pictures. Another example of blatant copyright infringement and ignorance.
And did you, Boredpanda, have permission and a contract to publish these photographs? Did you compensate the photographer for using these images? Didn't think so. So how about you send him a check. I'm sure you can afford it considering the ad revenue you made from all these visitors.
There are probably more inter-species friendships than we know -- just because we don't see them, doesn't mean that they don't happen. Man is the only creature that is automatically and irrationally vicious toward his fellow creatures.