A Russian pilot has saved a bear cub that was abandoned at an airport and has since developed a special relationship with it. Their unique bond has touched the hearts of many.
According to the Daily Mail, in 2016, the Russian pilot discovered a young bear cub near the Orlovka air base in the Tver region of Russia. The cub, which was about the size of a cat at the time, was named Mansur, meaning “Michael” in the Altai language.
The airport pilot believed that Mansur’s mother had been killed by hunters, leaving the cub alone and helpless.
After rescuing Mansur, the pilot took him under their care, with pilot Andrey Ivanov becoming Mansur’s main caregiver.
At the Orlovka air base in the Amur region, the cub enjoyed a happy life, playing around the airport and aircraft.
One day, when Mansur misbehaved, the pilots locked him outside the plane, leading to the cub crying. Ivanov started comforting Mansur by stroking his fur. Mansur, grateful, patted Ivanov’s leg, expressing love for him. This heartwarming moment marked the beginning of a strong bond between Ivanov and Mansur.
The pilots had initially planned to release Mansur back into the wild, but the bear had become too domesticated to adapt to life in the wild. Ultimately, Mansur’s ideal home became the Seliger Nature Reserve.
“A local official from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology volunteered to help,” Ivanov said. “We trusted him, but we wanted to keep a close eye on our bear, and that official didn’t inform us about Mansur’s situation.”
After a period of silence, the pilots conducted an investigation to see how Mansur was faring.
They found that Mansur had not been taken to Seliger but was brought to a “bear baiting station” in the Kaluga region of Russia. There, Mansur was often chained up, covered in his excrement, and attacked by dogs.
The brave pilots then organized a rescue operation, saving Mansur and bringing him back to the air base. Mansur immediately recognized his caregivers, giving them hugs and jumping on Ivanov’s leg.
“We saved him, and from that moment on, we never thought of letting Mansur be taken by someone else… He is a part of our team,” Ivanov said.
Upon Mansur’s return to the airport, Ivanov and his team raised $46,000 to build a shelter for Mansur and create a den for him. Ivanov often lies with Mansur, soothing him into hibernation. As a precaution, the pilots also installed an electric fence to protect humans in case Mansur suddenly became aggressive.
Today, Mansur stands nearly 6 feet tall. According to the website specially created for him, Mansur’s enclosure includes two dens and a forested area. The activity area also features a large swimming pool open from spring to fall.
Fans of Mansur can follow this famous bear on his YouTube channel, where his caregivers host live streams, sharing his antics with the world. All funds raised through Mansur’s live streams go towards meeting his needs.
People around the world are deeply concerned about Mansur.
“Unfortunately, he can’t be released into the wild, but thanks to that person’s compassion, this bear has the next best life next to the wild. He’s happy, healthy, well cared for, and safe. Well done!” one YouTube user wrote.
“Thank God for helping the helpless and showing compassion to animals in need,” another commenter expressed.
Mansur always respects Ivanov’s authority, licking his face to show gratitude. It also enjoys wrestling with Ivanov, being gentle not to harm him despite weighing 584 pounds as of June 2023, enough to effortlessly crush coconuts.
Ivanov and the pilots handle the bear with caution, only communicating with him when he is calm. When Mansur (or anyone) is in a bad mood, they do not engage with him. This seems to be the right approach, as it can prevent conflicts between humans and the bear.
Mansur enjoys a variety of foods, from watermelon to nuts, consuming about 33 pounds a day. It also loves playing in the water and taking baths. In winter, like other bears, he enters hibernation.
Although Ivanov resides and works in Moscow, Russia, he makes time to connect with Mansur whenever possible. Ivanov cares deeply for him and is disappointed that Mansur can never return to his natural habitat. The pilots dream of setting up a bear rehabilitation facility to treat injured bears and then release them back into the wild.