This Is The Most Heartbreaking Image I’ve Ever Taken
309Kviews
When I arrived at the landfill the smokey pit was on fire with flames coming up taller than the bear.
I was speechless, in complete shock of what I was seeing. When I finished making the photograph, the bear turned slowly and walked down into the smokey pit, disappearing from my sight. He never came back up during the rest of my time there.
It took me a very long time to process this photograph after, and I’m still not sure how I feel about. All I know is that it’s the only photograph I’ve ever made that has made me tear up on multiple occasions. And I’m sure still has more to teach me.
More info: Instagram
This Is The Most Heartbreaking Image I’ve Ever Taken
When I arrived at the landfill the smokey pit was on fire with flames coming up taller than the bear.
I was speechless, in complete shock of what I was seeing. When I finished making the photograph, the bear turned slowly and walked down into the smokey pit, disappearing from my sight. He never came back up during the rest of my time there.
It took me a very long time to process this photograph after, and I’m still not sure how I feel about. All I know is that it’s the only photograph I’ve ever made that has made me tear up on multiple occasions. And I’m sure still has more to teach me.
More info: Instagram
309Kviews
Share on FacebookAbout the author
Popular on Bored Panda
What do you think ?
You might think this is 'moving' but it's a reality of living in the northern latitudes. Bears up there are like raccoons and rats in other parts of the world. The bear isn't melancholy for loss of habitat, he smells anything remotely edible and would rather browse through landfill than go through the lean months of the year eating moss and grasshoppers. Again, the bear busted into a landfill, by his own damn choice.
MO, having grown up in southern Alaska, I will agree with you here. Black bears are some of the best scavengers around, and here in North Carolina a number of them are in my suburban neighborhood. But the best example of this is to be found in a little place called Cades Cove, where bear and skunk actually live among the campers, day in and day out. The truth is that wildlife actually do better around humans than they would in the wild. The wooded draw behind my house is home to at least one fox family, raccoons, possums, hawk, and yes coywolf. And a deer herd has a routine trail they travel daily. I occasionally see them in my back yard when I enter my driveway at night. Wild animals are thriving around we humans to the point where the deer population in NA is larger than they were when Columbus discovered America. So I don't quite understand why there are so many 'so called' conservationists who are opining about loss of habitat.
That's cute MO. I always wondered why the dumpsters tend to be left open around the Raleigh area, and this could be a reason why. One evening I had a bunch of trash to throw away, so I drove to a nearby row of retail stores, including a restaurant. I stopped at a set of Dempster dumpsters and was getting ready to dump my trash in one of them. I heard a rustle inside, and thinking it was one or more raccoons. As I was looking in one door, I saw a huge shape making its way out the other door. It was a black bear and it just waddled away toward more dumpsters about 35 meters away. The bear are all over the place down here and they must practically live in the thousands of dumpsters around the Raleigh area. I've never seen so many different animals in my life, and a lot of them don't even bother to hide. The two live coywolves I've seen hide right out in the open.
I agree completely! Once upon a time I worked for a scout camp in the northwoods of Wisconsin, and we had bear who would visit the dumpsters behind the dining hall. They were smart, mamma bear trained her cubs to go there for food because it was a reliable source during the summer months when natural food sources were few. We even tried chaining the lids down, but bears (being smart) turned their attention to what was in the kitchen and started tearing off siding. We left the dumpsters open.
We called the Bald Eagle up there a dumpster duck, but I don't seem to remember giving the bears a nickname.
Wanna see more, go here: https://www.google.com/search?q=Bears+in+the+dumpster+images&client=opera&hs=9jK&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiAprCA5sPWAhWpwVQKHVYrBLEQsAQIJw&biw=1600&bih=771#imgrc=_ Bears-in-t...c3a953.jpg
Just because bears rummage garbage for food doesn’t mean it is what is best for them. And felling forests to build homes for people does reduce healthy habitat for wildlife. Your understanding of the entire complex subject of human impact on the wild is obviously quite limited. It would behoove you and everyone you spout off ignorantly too and the animals you negatively impact as a result if you would acknowledge that you don’t know what you don’t know and put some effort into educating yourself. We humans need to: generate zero biodegradable/recyclable trash and manage the garbage we do produce so animals cannot access it. It is called being smart, compassionate and assuming our responsibilities as the supposedly smartest beings on the planet. Knowledge is power. Ignorance is destructive.
We're about as beneficial to them as the plague is to any overpopulated species. Our junk food isn't healthy for them, hunters love to kill them for sport, and they get hit in the roadways. They're populations can never really thrive, since if they show up in large groups, people get scared and call for culls. We're best at making things extinct.
I used to camp at Assateague Island, and the ponies there would raid a cooler faster than a raccoon any day. We were packing up to leave once, and as I put an item into the back of the Jeep, one of the ponies would pull it back out. Once one found a 2 liter of Coke I was able to pack in peace because they were occupied trying to open it. I had to get a ranger to come get the soda away as I didn't want to get bit and certainly didn't want one of then to choke on the cap.
Because many species go extinct because of loss of habitat, and those who don't often become pests that need to be exterminated. Raccoons carry rabies and eat and kill cats and dogs, they infest houses. Coyotes kill dogs, and have, in a few cases, attacked people. Bears are dangerous--wandering around a dump is not a good alternative to habitat.
I grew up on a farm in West Texas. Coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks, opossums and deer were regular visitors to our garden, which was fenced off at the back of our house. Nevertheless, they went to the trouble to get through the fence to browse the garden, especially when there wasn't as much to be found in the dryer months. When we camped out in the mountains (yes, in West Texas), our campfire was regularly visited by the same critters looking for leftovers. I agree completely with John L's comments.
I'm not sure how to feel about this image either, and you explain why perfectly: It's the acceptance of, and resignation to, the entire situation. Bears are opportunistic, he was willing to go among smoke and flames, and I'm sure this isn't the only one to raid the dump in search of an easy meal. Our attitude of, "This is reality, just the way things are," is what is heartbreaking.
Humans put the damn landfill there! The bear had no choice.
It´s actually comforting reading that the bear might not be sad after seeing the picture of a seemingly droopy bear and its just looking for food, just hope it finds a good snack without plastic or so.
A bit like the human species I think! Perhaps if we didn't inhabit every bit of planet earth,no matter how inhospitable, there'd be room for all of us!
he kinda looks like he's about to throw up.....is he sick....or maybe takin a nap?
Humans The worst beings in the entire world, I'm ashamed to be part of this race. Sooner we are extinct the better. Not gonna take long we're already doing it... because the people with the power to change things are so incredibly stupid
Anonymous, I've never seen anyone stating absolutely the same views of human race as my own. I've read many conservational books (mostly from Gerald Durrell) and they had once and for all convinced me that the biggest trouble makers when it comes to trying to save the planet are no other than the ones who've got the power. They are far more interested in progress, you know. Because money can solve anything according to their stupid little minds. They can't be eaten or used as oxygen masks though. But those morons would realize it only after there's no food or proper air to breathe.
Anonymous, cheer up. Things are not nearly as bad as you "feel" about it all. As the late Ben Wattenberg wrote, "The Good News Is The Bad News Is Wrong!" Think positive, ok? The greatest problem around the world is Crushing Poverty. Developed countries are richer and better able to take care of wildlife, as we are doing here. Third world countries are ecological wrecks because they are not allowed to practice Free Enterprise. In my and my neighbor's back yards are a wealth of wildlife living back there. There are more wild animals living well in the suburbs than you could ever find in the wild. I'm serious. They're everywhere and they are safer, better fed, and happier. And all due to we wealthy humans. So learn to think positive.
John L: you're looking at things with rose-colored glasses. We are utterly destroying the environment. The small efforts at conservation here and there are doing very little in the grand scheme.
Couldn't agree more with you! We live in an incredibly sad world. There is such a small majority of people like us, I'm sure if there were enough, we could fix a majority of the things that are wrong. For those with power to use it for providing the world and caring for the world and everything in it, we would all live a healthier and happier life. Why do they seem to think as long as we live nothing else matters? No animals no food or meat no plants nature no fresh air oxygen food but it's ok because will live to a "certain" point No animals
JACE Yes!!!
Humans are a part of the natural order just as all other creatures of the world. A lack of empathy for our own species is just as evil as a lack of empathy for other species, and much more damaging because it excuses our failure to be good and kind to one another as part of our nature, when that is not true. Babies are not born with hatred and violence in their hearts, those are learned behaviors, and when we set a higher expectation and a better example through acts of kindness and love for one another we see the best shine through. Stop believing the worst in people because 80% of us are genuinely good, loving people who do no harm, but the other 20% get all the attention.
Very well said. I agree with you.
although the 20% spoiled my vote
thanks -i needed that
So impatient to see the ones you love die away, aren't you? Awwww.... How nobile of you.... ♥
You're not alone in your thinking. This is part of the reason my husband and I aren't having children - there's too many of us, and I wouldn't any descendants to go forth into this shitty world we're ruining.
So set the example and find a tall cliff. #hypocrite
the good news is - you can unsubscribe anytime...
Sad to see someone say this and mean it. I feel sorry for you if this is how you feel. Such a low esteem of humans is quite sad. You must be the type that would rather rescue a puppy in the road over a human being.
People who say these things are usually the ones who don't bother to take a realistic perspective and immagine the scenario of something terrible happening to an actual loved one (family member, friend, love partner, etc.). Imagination surely helps us empathize, it's much more important than we think.
"You must be the type that would rather rescue a puppy in the road over a human being." Well that's exactly what I would do.
I don't know about him/her, but I would. I would even better save a snake which doesn't need help over a human.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
"People who say these things are usually the ones who don't bother to take a realistic perspective and immagine the scenario of something terrible happening to an actual loved one" You're confusing individual empathy for species-wide empathy. The two are different. In the same way as someone can love most people but hate certain individuals, it is also possible to love one individual whilst hating the species. I love my partner and my friends, and even myself, but I accept that we are all part of a parasitic species that is slowly destroying the planet and its inhabitants.
They are not stupid just unbelievably greedy and selfish.
Why not set an example as to how to go extinct? Act locally!
Yeah, but you eat meat, buy and burn gasoline, buy plastic, etc. We're all guilty. Damn😣now I need a drink...
@ anonymous why are you still here, then?
I agree! Surely we were given consciousness for better things. Many humans are good people who care, sadly the ones with power are blinded by their greed and society has been designed so we must be complicit in their evil to an extent. We must get rid of the corporate empire and return to old ways as much as we can. We have to take back control and stand up for our planet, it is our only home after all.
I disagree. No returning to the old ways, but rather think of a brand new solution that we haven't tried yet. Old ways are no longer BECAUSE they obviously didn't work. We should be more creative. Besides that it is possible to build technologies that are not only environment friendly, but that are actively contributing to its benefit.
I heartily agree. The human race is a car crash. I judge beings by their actions, and the actions of the human race are overwhelmingly negative. I don't think we're evil (though many are). In the same way as the ants' nest destroys your patio as a byproduct of them just living their lives, the human race destroys Earth as a byproduct of living their lives.
Interesting responses. Mostly the different ways everyone sees this.
Right . The varied comments on this photograph and on our environmental challenges can be construed in many different ways . It's difficult to come up with the right solutions but there are some many things that are being done that are very destructive and need to be stopped .
You might think this is 'moving' but it's a reality of living in the northern latitudes. Bears up there are like raccoons and rats in other parts of the world. The bear isn't melancholy for loss of habitat, he smells anything remotely edible and would rather browse through landfill than go through the lean months of the year eating moss and grasshoppers. Again, the bear busted into a landfill, by his own damn choice.
MO, having grown up in southern Alaska, I will agree with you here. Black bears are some of the best scavengers around, and here in North Carolina a number of them are in my suburban neighborhood. But the best example of this is to be found in a little place called Cades Cove, where bear and skunk actually live among the campers, day in and day out. The truth is that wildlife actually do better around humans than they would in the wild. The wooded draw behind my house is home to at least one fox family, raccoons, possums, hawk, and yes coywolf. And a deer herd has a routine trail they travel daily. I occasionally see them in my back yard when I enter my driveway at night. Wild animals are thriving around we humans to the point where the deer population in NA is larger than they were when Columbus discovered America. So I don't quite understand why there are so many 'so called' conservationists who are opining about loss of habitat.
That's cute MO. I always wondered why the dumpsters tend to be left open around the Raleigh area, and this could be a reason why. One evening I had a bunch of trash to throw away, so I drove to a nearby row of retail stores, including a restaurant. I stopped at a set of Dempster dumpsters and was getting ready to dump my trash in one of them. I heard a rustle inside, and thinking it was one or more raccoons. As I was looking in one door, I saw a huge shape making its way out the other door. It was a black bear and it just waddled away toward more dumpsters about 35 meters away. The bear are all over the place down here and they must practically live in the thousands of dumpsters around the Raleigh area. I've never seen so many different animals in my life, and a lot of them don't even bother to hide. The two live coywolves I've seen hide right out in the open.
I agree completely! Once upon a time I worked for a scout camp in the northwoods of Wisconsin, and we had bear who would visit the dumpsters behind the dining hall. They were smart, mamma bear trained her cubs to go there for food because it was a reliable source during the summer months when natural food sources were few. We even tried chaining the lids down, but bears (being smart) turned their attention to what was in the kitchen and started tearing off siding. We left the dumpsters open.
We called the Bald Eagle up there a dumpster duck, but I don't seem to remember giving the bears a nickname.
Wanna see more, go here: https://www.google.com/search?q=Bears+in+the+dumpster+images&client=opera&hs=9jK&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiAprCA5sPWAhWpwVQKHVYrBLEQsAQIJw&biw=1600&bih=771#imgrc=_ Bears-in-t...c3a953.jpg
Just because bears rummage garbage for food doesn’t mean it is what is best for them. And felling forests to build homes for people does reduce healthy habitat for wildlife. Your understanding of the entire complex subject of human impact on the wild is obviously quite limited. It would behoove you and everyone you spout off ignorantly too and the animals you negatively impact as a result if you would acknowledge that you don’t know what you don’t know and put some effort into educating yourself. We humans need to: generate zero biodegradable/recyclable trash and manage the garbage we do produce so animals cannot access it. It is called being smart, compassionate and assuming our responsibilities as the supposedly smartest beings on the planet. Knowledge is power. Ignorance is destructive.
We're about as beneficial to them as the plague is to any overpopulated species. Our junk food isn't healthy for them, hunters love to kill them for sport, and they get hit in the roadways. They're populations can never really thrive, since if they show up in large groups, people get scared and call for culls. We're best at making things extinct.
I used to camp at Assateague Island, and the ponies there would raid a cooler faster than a raccoon any day. We were packing up to leave once, and as I put an item into the back of the Jeep, one of the ponies would pull it back out. Once one found a 2 liter of Coke I was able to pack in peace because they were occupied trying to open it. I had to get a ranger to come get the soda away as I didn't want to get bit and certainly didn't want one of then to choke on the cap.
Because many species go extinct because of loss of habitat, and those who don't often become pests that need to be exterminated. Raccoons carry rabies and eat and kill cats and dogs, they infest houses. Coyotes kill dogs, and have, in a few cases, attacked people. Bears are dangerous--wandering around a dump is not a good alternative to habitat.
I grew up on a farm in West Texas. Coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks, opossums and deer were regular visitors to our garden, which was fenced off at the back of our house. Nevertheless, they went to the trouble to get through the fence to browse the garden, especially when there wasn't as much to be found in the dryer months. When we camped out in the mountains (yes, in West Texas), our campfire was regularly visited by the same critters looking for leftovers. I agree completely with John L's comments.
I'm not sure how to feel about this image either, and you explain why perfectly: It's the acceptance of, and resignation to, the entire situation. Bears are opportunistic, he was willing to go among smoke and flames, and I'm sure this isn't the only one to raid the dump in search of an easy meal. Our attitude of, "This is reality, just the way things are," is what is heartbreaking.
Humans put the damn landfill there! The bear had no choice.
It´s actually comforting reading that the bear might not be sad after seeing the picture of a seemingly droopy bear and its just looking for food, just hope it finds a good snack without plastic or so.
A bit like the human species I think! Perhaps if we didn't inhabit every bit of planet earth,no matter how inhospitable, there'd be room for all of us!
he kinda looks like he's about to throw up.....is he sick....or maybe takin a nap?
Humans The worst beings in the entire world, I'm ashamed to be part of this race. Sooner we are extinct the better. Not gonna take long we're already doing it... because the people with the power to change things are so incredibly stupid
Anonymous, I've never seen anyone stating absolutely the same views of human race as my own. I've read many conservational books (mostly from Gerald Durrell) and they had once and for all convinced me that the biggest trouble makers when it comes to trying to save the planet are no other than the ones who've got the power. They are far more interested in progress, you know. Because money can solve anything according to their stupid little minds. They can't be eaten or used as oxygen masks though. But those morons would realize it only after there's no food or proper air to breathe.
Anonymous, cheer up. Things are not nearly as bad as you "feel" about it all. As the late Ben Wattenberg wrote, "The Good News Is The Bad News Is Wrong!" Think positive, ok? The greatest problem around the world is Crushing Poverty. Developed countries are richer and better able to take care of wildlife, as we are doing here. Third world countries are ecological wrecks because they are not allowed to practice Free Enterprise. In my and my neighbor's back yards are a wealth of wildlife living back there. There are more wild animals living well in the suburbs than you could ever find in the wild. I'm serious. They're everywhere and they are safer, better fed, and happier. And all due to we wealthy humans. So learn to think positive.
John L: you're looking at things with rose-colored glasses. We are utterly destroying the environment. The small efforts at conservation here and there are doing very little in the grand scheme.
Couldn't agree more with you! We live in an incredibly sad world. There is such a small majority of people like us, I'm sure if there were enough, we could fix a majority of the things that are wrong. For those with power to use it for providing the world and caring for the world and everything in it, we would all live a healthier and happier life. Why do they seem to think as long as we live nothing else matters? No animals no food or meat no plants nature no fresh air oxygen food but it's ok because will live to a "certain" point No animals
JACE Yes!!!
Humans are a part of the natural order just as all other creatures of the world. A lack of empathy for our own species is just as evil as a lack of empathy for other species, and much more damaging because it excuses our failure to be good and kind to one another as part of our nature, when that is not true. Babies are not born with hatred and violence in their hearts, those are learned behaviors, and when we set a higher expectation and a better example through acts of kindness and love for one another we see the best shine through. Stop believing the worst in people because 80% of us are genuinely good, loving people who do no harm, but the other 20% get all the attention.
Very well said. I agree with you.
although the 20% spoiled my vote
thanks -i needed that
So impatient to see the ones you love die away, aren't you? Awwww.... How nobile of you.... ♥
You're not alone in your thinking. This is part of the reason my husband and I aren't having children - there's too many of us, and I wouldn't any descendants to go forth into this shitty world we're ruining.
So set the example and find a tall cliff. #hypocrite
the good news is - you can unsubscribe anytime...
Sad to see someone say this and mean it. I feel sorry for you if this is how you feel. Such a low esteem of humans is quite sad. You must be the type that would rather rescue a puppy in the road over a human being.
People who say these things are usually the ones who don't bother to take a realistic perspective and immagine the scenario of something terrible happening to an actual loved one (family member, friend, love partner, etc.). Imagination surely helps us empathize, it's much more important than we think.
"You must be the type that would rather rescue a puppy in the road over a human being." Well that's exactly what I would do.
I don't know about him/her, but I would. I would even better save a snake which doesn't need help over a human.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
"People who say these things are usually the ones who don't bother to take a realistic perspective and immagine the scenario of something terrible happening to an actual loved one" You're confusing individual empathy for species-wide empathy. The two are different. In the same way as someone can love most people but hate certain individuals, it is also possible to love one individual whilst hating the species. I love my partner and my friends, and even myself, but I accept that we are all part of a parasitic species that is slowly destroying the planet and its inhabitants.
They are not stupid just unbelievably greedy and selfish.
Why not set an example as to how to go extinct? Act locally!
Yeah, but you eat meat, buy and burn gasoline, buy plastic, etc. We're all guilty. Damn😣now I need a drink...
@ anonymous why are you still here, then?
I agree! Surely we were given consciousness for better things. Many humans are good people who care, sadly the ones with power are blinded by their greed and society has been designed so we must be complicit in their evil to an extent. We must get rid of the corporate empire and return to old ways as much as we can. We have to take back control and stand up for our planet, it is our only home after all.
I disagree. No returning to the old ways, but rather think of a brand new solution that we haven't tried yet. Old ways are no longer BECAUSE they obviously didn't work. We should be more creative. Besides that it is possible to build technologies that are not only environment friendly, but that are actively contributing to its benefit.
I heartily agree. The human race is a car crash. I judge beings by their actions, and the actions of the human race are overwhelmingly negative. I don't think we're evil (though many are). In the same way as the ants' nest destroys your patio as a byproduct of them just living their lives, the human race destroys Earth as a byproduct of living their lives.
Interesting responses. Mostly the different ways everyone sees this.
Right . The varied comments on this photograph and on our environmental challenges can be construed in many different ways . It's difficult to come up with the right solutions but there are some many things that are being done that are very destructive and need to be stopped .