Nature has the ability to be very cruel. Take, for instance, this story of a momma bear who was forced to leave her cubs to drown in a freezing lake. You maybe have heard countless stories of mothers in nature giving their lives to protect their young. Sadly, that was not what happened here. Much like with humans, animals are sometimes just not able to provide for their young. Luckily enough, some fishermen were nearby and knew they wanted to act. Read on to find out what happened to these poor baby bear cubs.
This Momma Bear Probably Never Expected To Make Such A Difficult Decision
This momma bear loved her cubs but in nature, sometimes the fight or flight instinct has to kick in. Heartbreakingly, she faced a situation where she had to choose between her own life and those of her bear cubs. She did what she had to in order to save her own life, but it left her heartbroken.
The fishermen in this story never expected to become such an important part of this story. It will just go to show that you don't always know what can happen in nature. Hope may have seemed lost for these cubs, but newfound heroes may have saved them.
The Cold Water Of Russia Left The Momma Bear In A Desperate Situation
Of course, our story takes place in Russia! Where else would men interact with the wild so freely? Specifically, our heroes were out fishing on Lake Vygozero. Located in the northwestern part of Russia, the freshwater lake can reach temperatures as low as negative four degrees Fahrenheit!
The large lake is extremely dangerous for fishermen if they fall in. It is also deadly for any wildlife who decides to take a dip. Something made this momma bear think she could cross the lake with cubs. Our best guess: she was desperate to find food. Little did she know, she might not have a family at the end of the day.
In This Case, Curiosity Nearly Killed The Bear
Nature is wild! Okay, that's an obvious statement, but we're still at a loss for what possessed this mom to try and swim across a giant freezing lake with her cubs. Whatever the reason was, she thought they would make it across.
Spoiler alert; she made it across. Her cubs, on the other hand, weren't so lucky. As we said, the bears may have been starving and getting to the other side of the lake was the answer. Nature may be wild, but there is always logic behind what we think is crazy.
She Was Forced To Make A Decision
Let's dive into our story now. This momma bear was raising her cubs, but she hadn't taught them to swim yet. Still, in order to survive, the family needed to venture across Lake Vygozero. The cubs hung onto their mother for dear life. Sadly, she realized quickly that not one of them would survive if she couldn't shake them loose.
The decision couldn't have been easy. Survival isn't easy though, and this mother wasn't about to go down with her ship. Did she know she was signing a death warrant for her cubs? She literally put them in a sink or swim situation!
The Moment Of Separation
No one could have seen the shocking moment when our momma bear let her cubs go. The heartbreaking moment goes against everything we thought we knew about nature. The truth is there is more to this story than meets the eye.
Numerous factors were responsible for the decision this mother was forced to make. Sadly yes, she was forced to leave her cubs behind.
The Water's Current Was The True Enemy
Perhaps our momma bear underestimated the current of Lake Vygozero when she decided to swim across with her cubs. The lake is large, but we imagine she had made the journey before. On this fateful day, however, the lake current was too strong.
Despite her best efforts, she just couldn't hold onto her cubs. She didn't shake them off or force them loose. The strength of the current forced the family to be separated. It couldn't have been easy to abandon her cubs, but it would have been impossible to swim back and save them.
What's A Cub To Do?
Alone and scared, these bear cubs let their survival instincts kick in. Their mom never got the chance to teach them how to swim, but they thrashed around until they figured it out. Treading water and swimming are two different things, though, and these cubs only figured out part one of survival.
Hope looked bleak. They were losing energy fast and could barely see their mother. Eventually, they would run out of energy and submit to the freezing water around them. Before that, luckily, a miracle happened.
All Hope Isn't Lost
Hope no longer seemed bleak for these cubs, it seemed lost. As their mother continued to get farther away, it became clear they were on their own. Obviously, it would be impossible to know what these bears were thinking. We're not bears, but it is interesting to speculate.
How close were they to giving up? Exhaustion was setting in, and they didn't have much gas left in their tanks. With all lost, fate stepped in. The dire tides these cubs were drowning in were about to change in their favor. Up next, an unexpected hero shows up!
A Metal Hero Arrives
On the brink of giving up, fate stepped into our little bear cubs' lives. In the distance, they spotted a metal hero: a fishing boat. If they could speak, they'd have been yelling, "help!"
No yelling was needed, the crew on the boat spotted the bears in the distance, too. They also spotted the bears mother swimming away. They were hesitant to intervene but knew they might be the cubs only chance to live. It helped that the bears had begun swimming towards them.
Another Day On The Job Suddenly Gets Interesting
The boat the bear cubs were swimming to was a fishing boat. The fishermen on board knew they had a job to do, but also knew these bears were in grave danger. What were they supposed to do, ignore the drowning bears and keep fishing?
They could have, but they didn't. Remember, this is a story about love, and these fishermen loved nature. Putting a days pay on the line, they made up their minds to save the cubs. There was just one problem...
A Mother Of A Problem
With their minds made up to help the bear cubs, the fishermen on the boat just needed to get past one big obstacle. The momma bear may have had to abandon her cubs, but she was still in the water, and still close enough to turn around and make a mess of the boat.
Our heroes were forced to wait. They needed to make sure the cubs' mother was far enough away before they could start their rescue. It's a good thing they still needed to come up with a plan! Then again, these determined cubs may have been concocting a plan of their own.
Baby Bears Make Their Own Rescue Plan
Before the fishermen had a plan of their own, our baby bears did the unthinkable; they came up with their own plan. Yep, these cubs knew their best chance for rescue, and they took it.
They didn't know that the fishermen on the boat were trying to wait for the all-clear from the momma bear. The truth was these fishermen were their only hope, so they swam to them. Just like the beginning of our story, when these bears got the boat, they hung on for dear life.
This Is Why Camera Phones Were Invented
Amidst the chaos, one of the fishermen did the obvious and grabbed his smartphone. Rescuing baby bears from drowning is a once in a lifetime experience. He waited for the right moment to start filming. He needed to make sure the baby bears were ready for their closeup!
Finally, the cubs got close enough to begin filming. You can see from the picture above how cute these little guys are! We wouldn't have let them drown either! With the camera rolling, the daring rescue was in full effect. Once the cubs grabbed onto the boat, there was no turning back!
The Fishermen Come Up With A Plan
As it turns out, the cubs' rescue plan went as far as getting to the boat. Once there they tried to get on, only too realize the side of the boat was too high and they were too exhausted. One of the fishermen came up with an interesting plan on the spot to help.
He grabbed all the fishing supplies on the boat to see if there was anything he could use to help aid the bears in their journey. A fishing net seemed the most logical, but also came with several issues. We'll get to those later when the net comes into play. Next, the bears come up with a new plan!
When In Doubt, Use Your Mouth!
Survival instinct had served the baby bears well so far. Good for them, their instinct had one more trick up its sleeve! As the fishermen were running out of time, the cubs began using their teeth to grab hold of anything they could hang onto.
Running on fumes, using their teeth to anchor into the boat worked! It may have saved these bears' lives too! Being able to conserve some energy bought the fishermen more time to figure out how to get them onto the boat with getting hurt or mauled. These bears needed rescuing, but they were still wild animals!
A Good Plan Only Goes So Far
So here we are, baby bears anchored to the fishing boat and fishermen desperately trying to figure out how to haul them to safety. It would have been easy to give up and push the bears back into the water, but these fishermen's hearts weren't that cold. Also, the bears had made it this far; they deserved to be rescued!
Still, they couldn't just reach out and pull the bear cubs into the boat. Besides no one on the boat being strong enough, none of the fishermen were brave enough to put their arm in mouth reach of these wild animals. That is until they locked eyes with each other.
The Eyes Are The Windows To The Soul
As man and bear locked eyes with each other, it was clear who was in danger and needed saving. One look into the desperate eyes of these cubs and any fear the fishermen had disappeared. Everyone knew that even if these bears were safe on the boat, they would not act out against their saviors.
The eyes are the windows to the soul. It doesn't matter who is looking at what, these bears revealed themselves to the fishermen. Now it was time for the fishermen to reveal their hidden bravery to the bears! Coming up, a plan that finally works!
A New, Even Better Plan Is Hatched
Going back to the beginning, the fishermen looked at the supplies they had with them. Fishing rods? Useless! Fishing nets? Now that could work! The cubs were already holding onto the boat, so giving them a little push seemed like the perfect plan.
Every plan, however, comes with problems to solve. Would the fishing nets be long enough to reach the bears? More importantly, would the fishing nets be strong enough to boost the bears up? This was the plan, and there was no turning back.
Running Out Of Time
Plan in place, the fishermen were quickly running out of time to save the cubs. They had been out on the water swimming and hanging on for what seemed liked hours. This plan had to work. There was no time for another plan to concocted.
They would know right away if the fishing nets would be strong enough to save the bears. It was a longshot, but there were no other shots. For these bears, the situation had become do or die, and these fishermen were not about to let them die.
Easier Said Than Done?
The fishermen acted quickly to get one of their nets under the first cub. The second cub was still in the water, fighting to get to the boat and hang on. As our heroes used the net to hoist the bear, a few things became clear.
First, the net was strong enough! It did not snap underneath the weight of this baby beast. Second, they were about to pull a wild animal on board a boat with strangers that it might think are poachers! This thought crossed their minds, and their solution is one for the ages!
How To Calm The Mighty Beast
Bringing one of the most dangerous animals in the wild onto a small fishing boat is not a safe activity. The first bear cub, as exhausted as he was, could easily act out once on the boat. If he perceived the fishermen as a threat, there is no doubt he could find the energy to defend himself.
To calm the bears, the fishermen used an age-old tactic you might recognize from your infant days. They talked to the animals in soothing voices, assuring them that there was no danger aboard, only safe harbor. The bear understood but was slowly losing energy and becoming heavier to hoist.
Heavy Lifting To The Max
How daunting was the task these fishermen were trying to accomplish? A full-grown bear can weigh up to 1,700 pounds. A newborn can weigh as little as one pound. These cubs were somewhere in between, and their fur was full of water.
The brave fishermen saving these cubs were having their endurance limits tested, that's for sure! That didn't stop them, though. Using every ounce of strength they had, they hoisted the first bear. It wasn't easy, and it took awhile, but as you're about to see, the effort was well worth it!
One Bear In The Boat!
With the fishing net holding firm, the fishermen gave the cub one last big push! He was saved and finally able to relax. This bear would live to see another day! Everyone was happy, but there was no time to celebrate. Don't forget; there was another bear in the water running out of energy!
The good news was they had proved to themselves they could do the impossible. The bad news was the second cub wasn't at the boat yet and would take even more energy to save.
Adjusting A Winning Formula
The tricky thing about saving the second cub wasn't getting him into the boat. The fishermen knew how to do that. The first thing they had to do was get to the baby bear in the first place. Once there, they needed to figure out how to get the cub to the side of the boat so they could bring him on board.
This was no easy task. They moved the boat close to the cub, who was too weak to grab on for safety. Once there, they put the net under the hope and prayed it would work again, this time supporting the entire weight of the bear!
Brothers Reunited At Last
The second bear cub felt heavier than his brother. The fishermen placed the net under him in the water and dragged him to the boat. After this, his rescue was the same; he latched on and the fishermen used every last ounce of strength they had to hoist him to safety.
The brothers were reunited, but far too tired to celebrate. Their saviors couldn't celebrate yet either. They had saved the baby cubs, but their mother had abandoned them. What were they supposed to do with them?
Not Rescued Just Yet
Now safely onboard, it became clear this rescue mission was far from over. The bear cubs were shaking uncontrollably. They were freezing and scared with no mother to comfort them. Worse, they didn't have much contact with humans before now and had no idea what intentions their heroes might really have.
As we know, the bears were in no danger from the fishermen. For these cubs, though, this experience happened as they were still learning how the world worked. To this point, it didn't seem very nice! Of course, things would get better once the fishermen figured out how to get them to shore.
Bears Don't Make Good Pets
The biggest issue facing these bear cubs was what to do with them. Their mom was gone, and bears aren't the best domestic pets. Still, they had grown on the fishermen, who were heartbroken to see them shaking and scared.
The decision wasn't easy for the fishermen, but they decided they needed to return the cubs to land and let them fend for themselves. Hopefully, their mother had taught them enough survival skills to make it! There was always the chance they would be reunited with their mother.
Finding The Perfect Spot To Say Goodbye
The fishermen had an idea for the perfect spot to drop their new friends off. They knew their mom couldn't be too far away. They just had to figure out which island she ended up on. If they could return the bears to that island, then maybe she would come back for her kids.
They looked around them at all the islands and made their best guess as to where they last saw the mother. Just like the rescue, the percentages were not in their favor, but they knew it was a chance they had to take.
Arriving At The Island
As they approached the island, everyone held their breath. Would their mom be waiting for them? Was this even the right island? Were the fishermen safe if their mom was there? All of these questions would get answered, but not without plenty of drama beforehand.
If they did get the bears to the island and their mom was there, there is no way she would think they were doing the right thing. Her instincts would tell her to protect her children, even at the expense of their saviors. Nerves were high as the boat pulled up. Keep reading to learn what was waiting for them on the island!
Is Mother There To Greet Them?
The fishermen waited at the island before leaving the boat to see if the cubs' mother would show up. They waited. And waited. Finally, it became clear that it was safe for them to drop the bears off, except the bears weren't ready to say goodbye.
During the rescue, the bears and fishermen had grown fond of each other. Love from the fishermen had saved the bears, and now the bears didn't want to go. More accurately, the bears couldn't go, they were still too weak. The fishermen knew their mother could show up any minute though, and used one last heroic gesture to send the bears back off into the wild.
The Best Kind Of Carrying
Until now, the fishermen had done very little physical handling of the bear cubs. With the poor things too exhausted to move, though, the time for diplomacy was dead. Working against the clock, the fishermen picked up the bears and carried them off the boat onto the island.
The bears, now safely on dry land, still had a fight ahead of them, but for the moment were alive. It wasn't easy to say goodbye, but the fishermen knew they had to. They were from different worlds, even if love had brought them together for a few hours.
The Risk Was Worth The Reward
Let's consider the facts. If you were on a boat and saw two of the most dangerous animals in the wild drowning, would you help? It's a tough question to answer, and these fishermen found the bravery within themselves to do the right thing.
Bears might have a violent reputation, but also mostly keep to themselves, away from humans. Instead of turning their back, these heroes gave these bears a chance to survive at great risk to themselves. The reward they received, the bond formed that will last a lifetime, was worth every life-threatening second!
The Future Is Full Of Possibilities
The men on the boat pulled away, giving the cubs some space. As the boat trailed further from the cubs, they watched as their mother made her way across the water to the shore.
They could end their day knowing the cubs were safely reunited with their mom and would be taken care of.
Rescuing A Sheep With No Concern For Their Own Lives
These young men witnessed a sheep drowning in some heavy water and quickly jumped into action. When their first attempts to reach the animal failed, one of the young men grabbed his buddy's hand and jumped into the water. They managed to grab a hold of the sheep and pull it to safety.
Young Man Runs Into Traffic To Save His Dog
This child witnessed a dog running into a high traffic area. Instead of waiting for an adult the little boy ran to his scared dog, who was hit by a car and had become paralyzed with fear. He proceeded to use all of his strength to pick the dog up and then played a game of real-life Frogger as he dodged speeding vehicles to bring them both to safety.
This Guy Saved A Deer From A Flood
This baby deer was facing certain death before this man jumped into raging flood waters to save the wild animal. Don't worry, despite the appearance of this photo, the man survived, but had to hold his breath for a while as they swam to dry land. Deer can be a nuisance but baby animals deserve a chance to grow into adulthood.
Little Boy Saves A Puppy From A Flood
It's obvious from this photo that saving this dog was a struggle for this small child. Despite wading through muddy flood waters they managed to save this wet and scared dog from a watery grave. You don't have to be a heroic adult to help animals, you just need to have a big heart and the adrenaline to get through some pretty scary situations.
Saving A Pig From A Roof
These men from the Village Of Vojskova were cruising around on a rescue boat following a flood when they ran into a pig — on a roof! The men quickly positioned their boat and climbed onto the room of a human to save the animal. After a bit of struggling they were able to corral the animal and deliver it to safety. Aside from their bravery, this is probably one of the strangest animal rescues we have witnessed.
Man Dives Into Ocean And Saves 400-Pound Bear
The animal control team in Alligator Point, Florida, attempted to sedate a black bear that was roaming through a residential area. The bear, under the effects of the drugs, roamed into the bay and started to drown. This brave man refused to let the 400-pound bear drown and jumped into the water, grabbed a hold of the animal, and swam it to safety.
A Fisherman And A Dog
A fisherman was out on open waters when he witnessed an incredible sight. A dog was stranded on a piece of ice that had broken away. The fisherman quickly changed into their survival gear and jumped into the freezing water to save his new four-legged friend. Both man and dog were eventually aboard the fisherman's boat and they lived to tell about their story.
Animals Know When They Have Been Rescued From Death
Don't let animals fool you, they are amazing creatures and realize when they have been saved. This cat was pulled from a burning building and immediately clung to the firefighter who saved its life. Remember to treat animals with respect because they have a lot of love to give if you love them back.
This Firefighter Nearly Died Saving This Adorable Poodle
Firefighter Ray Spellmyer rushed into a building fire and pulled out a Poodle named Joseph. A quick look at the complete carnage of the scene highlights the bravery of the firefighters who rushed into the blaze. Joseph doesn't look great in this photo but he has gone on to live a healthy and happy life thanks fully to his brave human rescuers.
A Human Chain, A Dam, And A Dog
This dog fell into the waterway at a dam and was close to death. A group of Good Samaritans spotted the dog and formed a human chain. One of the brave people fought against a current to grab the dog and deliver it to safety. Humans really can be amazing creatures in their own right.
Man Saves Dolphin From A Beach Stranding
A baby dolphin washed up on shore and this guy rushed to the dolphin's side. The creature was small enough that the man was able to pick it up and return the baby to the ocean. It doesn't take a lot to be a Good Samaritan for animals, you just have to act quickly and then move on. Hopefully, more people follow in this man's footsteps after seeing this story.
Men Help Dog In Filthy Water
This dog was doing it's best doggie paddle but it wouldn't have been enough to help him survive. These mean teamed up and helped the little guy out of the water once they realized it was a dog in all that filth. One of them could have easily fallen in themselves but they didn't care. The dog was the main focus.
Saved From The Building
It looks the man holding the dog is the one who really risked his life but no points are taken off from the partner there. It appears to be a collapsed building of some sort that the dog was in and they happen to find him so that is great. His opening up his arms for a big thank you hug!
Through High Waters
He put the dog on his back and did it for the city. If you have ever tried to put a dog on your back before, you know it isn't that easy. Imagine doing it through waist-high waters! This man is a legend and now his dog loves him that much more.
The Deer Is What Matters
These waters are not high as some of the other floods but you never know what creatures are swimming beneath the waters. For the fact alone, this man risks something by saving this huge deer. He must be in the gym too because it looks heavy and it is almost his size!
Huge Dogs Gets Saved
This one is a bit similar to the previous slide, however, this time they were smart and brought along a mini-boat with them. There could be some crazy creatures in that water so you can never be too safe. And good job on carrying such a huge dog.
Deep Waters Calls For The Experts
Another day, another dog saved. This time at what looks like a dock. The dog must have fallen in and realized she didn't know how to swim. The situation must have been handled quickly because the chances of that dog drowning are high in that deep of water.
Manhole, No Problem
Unless you are a mutant ninja turtle then going inside manholes probably isn't your thing. This poor small kitten fell in and the owner called 911 as soon as possible. Going into that manhole could have been problematic for that firefighter but he braved it and came out with a smile.
Through The Wire
Judging by the mask the adorable cat is wearing, it was deprived of oxygen which means he most likely was in a fire. The way the cat looks up at the firefighter you can tell he forever grateful to this man. The cat was probably panicking like no other until being rescued.
Risk Of Being Frozen
This Russian firefighter risked frostbite to save this elegant cat. Those icicles hanging from the roof indicate that it is pretty cold in whatever city they are in and the face on that cat is priceless. Someone needs to warm him up immediately. He probably needs a warm coffee himself.
Don't Forget The Owl!
You wouldn't expect a flying bird to have to be rescued because they can just use their wings and get away. This little owl probably injured itself while in a tall tree and couldn't get down. Here comes the fireman to the rescue! Getting lifted to high altitudes for animals is a brave thing no matter how you look at it.
The Kangaroo Gets Rescued
More floods, more brave citizens. If only kangaroos could read because it clearly says right that "floodway" but hey you can't win them all, little joey! Luckily this brave man had the courage to go out and scoop up this little guy. We need more people like him.
MMA fighter Saves The Day
His name is Cathal Pendred and he is an MMA fighter. He saw this beached dolphin and turned on hero mode to rescue the poor guy. One of the less life-threatening situations but you never know what type of animal could have come up to shore to try and eat that little guy.
Kittens In A Basket
This flood looks brutal, especially for these poor kittens! Even though it looks like he forgot about one (or maybe that one can handle his own in the water) he has a whole litter on his head as he traverses through the muddy waters. With a walking staff in hand, he is now a hero.
Piggyback For The Win
Here we have a young hero. Whether or not that dog is his doesn't matter but it would make him more entitled to save the dog if it was his. Regardless, he is a young brave gentleman traveling through those dangerous waters to save the life of this innocent animal.
Porpoise In The Rice Field
After a flood, this porpoise ended up a rice field. Luckily, it had this brave citizen to come to its rescue. Being trapped in a rice field for a sea creature certainly isn't a good thing to happen even if it is covered in water, it needs to get back to its own habitat.
Teamwork Makes The Dream Work
This is some smart teamwork we see here. It looks like the boy highest up is holding a lunchbox for the other boy to slide down and get the little dog. Being smart in a situation like this is a must. Wasting time could result in the life of a poor animal and that would be no good.
War Save
"Okay so get this, we were battling during WWII and out of nowhere, we see an injured baby goat," how these war vets start off this story to their grandkids. Yes, that is right, they were fighting in one of the biggest wars ever and had the courage to bring this baby goat back to health.
Brush Fire Koala
You can see the ash on his face and jacket, this firefighter just got finished putting out a fire and went to rescue this cute koala! He even gave him some water because he knew that dehydration was a factor after a fire. We thank those who risk their lives for not only us but for animals as well.
Freed After 50 Years In Captivity
Some of the most harrowing acts of human heroics on behalf of animals involve rescue groups who go out of their way to free animals from captivity. Wildlife SOS arranged for the amazing rescue of this elephant after 50 years of living in horrible conditions. These rescues often involve a large group of people ensuring that everyone is safe during the rescue mission.
Fire, Electrical Wires, And Saving Animals
When firefighters arrived at this shed fire they found a man rescuing various animals from the blaze. Not only was the man running in and out of the fire, he was also dodging a downed electrical wire. It takes a special kind of person to risk their life various times and in various ways to save their four-legged friends from a brutal death.
Fukushima Animal Rescues
After Japan experienced its worst nuclear power plant failure in the country's history, one man stuck behind to rescue various animals. “They told me that I wouldn’t get sick for 30 or 40 years. I’ll most likely be dead by then anyway, but I couldn’t care less," he explained when questioned about potential radiation poisoning. What an amazing person and animal lover.
This Man Goes Undercover To Save Dogs
Marc Ching doesn't just save dogs, he risked his life in the process. He travels to China and poses as an undercover American businessman. He tells sellers he wants to buy the dogs to slaughter and use for their meat. He then spends his own money to export them. Once they are out of the country he helps the dogs get adopted, saving their lives from the butcher block. He says that some cultures believe "tortured and scared dogs taste better" and he fights to save them from a horrible life and ultimate death.
This Firefighter Saved Baby Hamsters From A Trailer Fire
Firefighters risk their lives every day and it's not just about saving homes and people. When they run into a blazing home they attempt to save any living creatures inside the structure. In this case, a firefighter saved a litter of baby hamsters. They then gave the babies a chance at survival with a life-saving oxygen mask treatment.
Into A Freezing Lake To Save A Dog
This man didn't just leap into a frozen lake without thinking about the consequences. He literally stripped down to his underwear and socks and ventured towards the last remnants of a frozen lake. He managed to call the dog to his location and pulled the scared and dying animal out of the water. We're sure this was painful for our hero but he never backed down from saving the stranded and scared dog.
The Flood Means Nothing
This flood was no match for this man and the love he has for his dog. If he had been about four inches shorter then the flood would have been a problem but luckily for him, he had a slight height advantage. The dog looks scared but once they got back to land he was all better.
This Guy Hung From A Building To Save A Dog
This Good Samaritan noticed a scared dog hanging from a balcony. The only way to rescue the dog was to scale the side of the building and then climb with the scared pooch to safety. Both the man and the dog lived to tell and bark about their harrowing flirtation for death.
Rooftop Rescue
This firefighter could have easily fallen off that roof with one slip of his footing and it would not have ended well. How did the dog get up there? That doesn't matter, all that matters is that the dog is safe and the fighter lived to tell the tale. Kudos to you, hero.
Rescued From The Hurricane Harvey Floods
Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas on August 26, 2017, and was the strongest hurricane to hit the U.S. since 2005. In the four-day period the storm moved through Texas, many areas received more than 40 inches of rain and experienced catastrophic flooding. Over 30,000 people were displaced from their homes and many animals were abandoned or lost amidst the crisis. While some people left their pets behind, this woman was going to do everything she could to save her precious pup—even if it meant wading through waist-deep water with her dog on her back to get him to safety.
This Man Jumped Into Froze Lake To Save A Bird
Not all birds are capable of taking the plunge into a frozen lake and surviving. When this man in Norway realized a winged friend was in danger, he took it upon himself to save the animal. The man stripped off his shirt and jumped into freezing cold water. The bird was saved and the man was hailed as a hero for his selfless act.
Man Creates Boat to Transport Sheep
After the devastating floods in Louisianna and Mississippi in 2016, many animals were in desperate need of transportation to dry ground, especially those that were not acclimated to swimming in water. here, we can see a man that has constructed a makeshift boat that is carrying a group of sheep to safety. While most people think of their cats and dogs, this man is thinking about the livestock that matter too. I'm sure those sheep were very grateful. Whether they are his sheep or not, it looks like a lot of effort went into making sure these sheep were kept safe.
Breathe Little Buddy
It looks as though this poor goose was caught in a fire and suffered from severe smoke inhalation. Good thing that firefighters come equipt with all of the gear necessary to help any kind of living animal. Very rarely do you see a goose so incredibly calm and docile around humans, but by the looks of it, this goose couldn't be happier to breathe again. Now that firefighter can check saving a wild goose off of his list, not something that everyone can say in their lifetime. Hopefully, this goose went on to live a fulfilling life in the wild once again.
Teamwork at its Finest
This very cold-looking dog appears to be in very good hands now. It looks like all of them wanted a piece of the action to help save this dog. By the looks of it, the dog isn't the only one that's relieved because you can even see the smiles on the firefighter's faces as well. I hope this dog was either safely returned to its owner next to a warm fire, or one of these fine young men decided to take him in and make him his own. I hope that dog's white and that's not all snow!
Bogged Down
Here we have an amazing display of bravery and determination. This horse was caught in a bog, and it took this one man a long time and a lot of energy to try and coerce it to solid ground. As we all know, horses are not small creatures by any means and can be particularly threatening when they are afraid themselves. This man put that behind him and risked his life in more ways than one. Once by possibly falling into the bog himself, and again if the horse attempted to kick him. yet, it looks like the horse understands that he is trying to help.
"I Didn't Like That at All"
That's exactly what this cat was thinking as it saved by this firefighter. From his suit and the ash on his jacket, it looks as though maybe this cat was stuck in a house fire but luckily this brave man was there to save the day. Cats can already be a little jumpy, so I'm sure a house fire is their worst nightmare. However, clearly, this cat feels lucky to be alive and almost looks to be lost in deep existential thought thinking how it's going to start being nice to the dog and stop trying to kill birds because life's too short for that.
Mouth-to-Mouth
In Wisconsin during a house fire, after one of their dogs had been rescued, the firefighters went back into the house to find the other 7-year-old dog, Koda. The dog was found and taken outside where the firefighters performed mouth-to-nose artificial respiration on the not breathing dog. The two firefighters Jamie and Jared said they had no formal training on animal rescue and that the entire thing was improvised. The dog, as well as the rest of the family and pets all recovered.
Recovery Time
This firefighter is giving this shocked little dog some much needed tender love and care after he rescued him from a burning home in Connecticut. Not only did this man risk his life going into a burning building to save him, but is taking the time to make sure that he is ok before moving on. Normally, I doubt that dog would have drunk straight from a water bottle, but after an ordeal like that, it looks more than thankful. Very nice job, sir. You've definitely made a new friend today.
I'm Saved!
In 2010, a massive earthquake struck Chile. A lot of humans, as well as animals, were trapped beneath the rubble. here are two first responders braving the unstable collapsed buildings to save this dog. One of the helpers is even halfway inside of a collapsed building that could crush him at any second. This dog is also giving a whole new meaning to welcomed with open arms. It doesn't look like it wants to be anywhere else except in the arms of its saviors. I'm sure the dog's owners will be thrilled.
Lucky Dog
After a natural disaster in China's Sichuan Province, we can see two rescuers carefully pulling free a dog that was trapped beath the rubble. I don't know who's luckier, the dog for not being crushed or the rescuers that managed to find it amidst all of the destruction. Either way, I'm sure both parties were relieved to see the other. That dog should count itself lucky, and we hope that it managed to find its family once again. We're sure the rescuers got their fair share of than you kisses from this brave pup.
Teenager Saved Dog And Adopted Them
Saving a drowning dog is one thing but choosing to adopt them when you are only a teenager is an entirely different kind of choice. This young man obviously has a passion for animals even at a young age. We know he'll take great care of this dog and it's just a lucky chance that they found each other.
Man Faces The Fire For A Rabbit
When the Thomas Fire ravaged throughout Los Angeles in late 2017, this guy put his life on the line to save a rabbit that was skirting too close to the edge of the fire. The viral footage sparked inspiration at a time when multiple natural disasters around the country were wearing our hopes thin.
The Rescue Attempt With A Tragic End
While many people succeed risking their lives to save animals, some hopefuls are not so lucky. A Massachusetts couple drowned after they jumped into a lake to save their terrier who jumped in the water. Although other people in the lake were able to rescue their bodies, attempts to revive the couple were unsuccessful.
Wouldn't You Do The Same?
The Louisiana floods of 2016 caused panic as animal shelters were quickly filling up and volunteers did everything they could to let the animals escape. When you know a helpless animal is about to lose its life, wouldn't you at least try to do something to help it? Not doing so would probably cause an immense amount of guilt.
Threat Of An Eruption Prompts A Rescue Mission
In late 2017, Bali's Mount Agung was sending hundreds of tremors through the tourist island with experts warning that an eruption was imminent. Many residents evacuated to shelters or relatives, leaving pets and farm animals behind. But a brave team of rescuers risked going into the red zones to retrieve these animals. The mission was scary for them, since the volcano could have erupted at any minute.
You'd Do Anything For A Faithful Companion
When Hurrican Harvey ravaged through Houston, locals couldn't leave their faithful pets stranded. People shares this photo of Texas resident Joe Garcia, more than waist deep in the flood to help his dog Heidi into a rescue boat. The look in Heidi's eyes shows gratitude for being saved in a fearful situation.
By Any Means Necessary
Here, a Houston local is saving his pets by any means necessary. For him, this means floating them to safety on an air mattress, while he himself trudges through the rising water in the streets. People have special connections with their pets, so the risk of losing them means losing so much more.
He Could Have Given Up
This dog was trapped in an icy river and was on the brink of giving up when these citizens called emergency services to rescue him. Even though the rescuer is wearing protection against the ice, he had to shimmy across it for fear of breaking the ice and falling in himself. He was able to save the dog, named Charlie, who was adopted to a forever home.
They Did What They Could To Save This Pregnant Cow
When these local farmers saw this defenseless pregnant cow in the deadly grip of an anaconda, they banded together to save not one, but two lives. This was obviously dangerous considering the size of the anaconda, which could have very well attacked them as well.
Face To Face With A Wild Animal
This wolf looks like it's trying to attack this man, but that's exactly the risk he took when trying to save its life. Two hunters found a distressed wolf stuck in a trap. So they tried to set it free, even though this wild animal's instinct might be to attack once freed. The man actually used the board as a wall between him and the wolf so that he could safely get close enough to the trapped paw to undo the trap. Once set free, the wolf ran away.
He Did It Because The Zoo Wouldn't
In 1990, Rick Swope was enjoying the ape enclosure at the Detroit Zoo, when suddenly a fight between two chimps sent one of them into a deep moat that was meant to keep them in. Chimps can't swim, so everyone merely watched while the chimp continued to drown. Warned to stay back by zoo staff, Swope sprung into action and jumped into the moat, risking his life to save the chimp.
