Quartz:
By now, you may have seen the new feel-good video making the rounds on the internet featuring a polar bear “patting” a dog on its head in Churchill, Canada. The CBC called the bear a “gentle giant.” The Huffington Post praised its “cuteness factor.” A Facebook commenter said, “We are fortunate to be able to see with our own eyes how animals of all kinds are capable of love.” The dog’s owner, Brian Ladoon, said the seemingly friendly interaction was “nature’s will.”
There’s just one problem with this heartwarming narrative: That polar bear isn’t expressing love for the dog. It’s playing with its prey.
The viral video demonstrates the dangers of anthropomorphization: the projection of human personalities on animals.
When I first saw this video, I never thought for a second the bear was “playing” with the dog.
People are ignorant, living in fantasy, more and more isolated from reality. According to the news, this guy chains up his dogs, leaves them totally vulnerable as prey. He is quoted as saying about one of his dogs being eaten by a bear, “That was the only day we didn’t feed the fucking bears, the only night we didn’t put anything out.”
We should feed this guy as well as the tourists, to the bears; we are a huge part of why these animals will go extinct.
Agreed.
Absolutely, I’m sure polar bears look at every other animal including humans and some other polar bears as food. Mind you, the Koreans eat dogs…is there a case for “reverse anthropomorphization?”
So, my question: if Canadians are supposed to know this, why was the CBC duped of all organizations? I thought things are better north of here.
(Yes, tongue in cheek. Mostly.)
Wow, what a bunch of idiots. All I felt was fear for the poor dog. I’d never have chained any of them in the first place
If I was there, I’d be telling them to try to scare the bear away.
What the hell is wrong with some people.
Incredible.
I still love the news story from a year ago or so about tourists trying to take selfies with bears & cougars, etc. I think it was in the SF Chronicle, but not positive.
The bear was chilling the dog like cheap wine, soon to be guzzled whilst watching g the sunset.
bears are not cute.
Not so much in terms of animal welfare.
Why are “Canadians are supposed to know this”?
Canadians are better informed. And this is in Canada. And I assume The Loopers, knowing all things Canadian, represent the country finely. 🙂
Interesting, except “anthropomorphization” is misused.
“Canadians are better informed.”
Not about polar bears.
“I assume The Loopers, knowing all things Canadian, represent the country finely. 🙂 “
Oh Lord no. Please don’t take Jim and I as representative of Canada. Canadians are much better people than we are. 🙂
If the article is accurate, then what’s worst is how cynical the dogs’ owner appears to be, leaving the dogs out as bait.
Unless of course the bear was animatronic!
Hey now, don’t speak for all Canadians. When I see a polar bear walking down Queen St. in Toronto I know enough to cross the street.
It can be difficult to overcome the influence of decades of goofy Disney “nature” films that fictionalize real-world animal behavior.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/polar-bear-dog-video-churchill-manitoba-1.3855128