Finnish Wildlife Photographer Captures Unusual Friendship

How the Friendship Started is a Mystery

Check out the photos of this very special relationship

“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.

While exactly how the friendship was formed is not known, Lassi speculated during an interview with the Daily Mail that perhaps each were alone as youngsters. Perhaps they were not sure how to survive on their own.

No matter what created the bond, it is certainly there. No only did the pair spend time together in apparently play, they shared food with one another.

This is unusual behavior for a bear and wolf, as any wildlife photographer will attest.

Seeing the pair together, Lassi could tell they felt safe with each other. Even without knowing the details, he immediately recognized an incredible story.

Looking at these pictures, Lassi and the viewers may be forgiven for waxing a bit romantic. Perhaps even for applying human qualities to these magnificent animals. At least on the surface, they do appear to share some of the qualities that we hold dear: loyalty, sharing, camaraderie…a true friendship.

As we watch the gray wolf and the brown bear walk off into the mist together, there is a sense of a legend being formed. Let us hope that we read more of their story over the coming years, even though we know, one day, even this bond will be broken.

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Click learn more about Finnish Nature Photographer Lassi Rautiainen

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All Photos by Lassi Rautiainen