Patrick Parker and his five-year-old son Ian frequent the Nashville Zoo, but he's never before witnessed his boy engaging in an extended game of copycat with an Andean bear until their most recent trip.
Inside the water filled exhibit, the curious bear splashed into the pool and waded its way over to the leaping boy and joined him for a 10-minute, tandem jump-fest.
Take a break and watch this if your soul needs some soothing (and even if it doesn't). https://t.co/wYP7sXoaM5β Marsha Lederman (@Marsha Lederman)1528931187.0
The pair separated by glass was united in their playful encounter as the bear continued mimicking Ian's airborne feat.
Many people adored the cute interaction of Mowgli and Baloo-incarnates playing out in the video.
@marshalederman This is so damn adorable.β Jimmy Thomson (@Jimmy Thomson)1528931264.0
@marshalederman Beautiful. Innocent fun.β Eileen Lindburg (@Eileen Lindburg)1528940780.0
Is Ian the bear-whisperer? This encounter is unprecedented.
This is pretty much what I hope for every time I'm at the zoo or aquarium, never been as lucky as this little dude. https://t.co/A1Pnn1vGepβ Josh Knight (@Josh Knight)1528927939.0
@ABC π https://t.co/o12TKKyRNLβ Felichia Eaton (@Felichia Eaton)1528926968.0
@FelichiaEaton @drgenius1970 @ABC Thatβs what itβs all about..β Luciferrin (@Luciferrin)1528968426.0
Reaching for Friday like ... https://t.co/kSAcMkIObvβ Adriana Pratt (@Adriana Pratt)1528928769.0
Others, however, overlooked the cuteness.
This is great but if that glass wasn't there the bear would eat that child. https://t.co/NjIykAZLxJβ JP Myers (@JP Myers)1528931633.0
@marshalederman Poor bear god bless this bears soul this bear is making the best of the situation. I wish we didnβtβ¦ https://t.co/unhnBMaeBNβ Anita (@Anita)1528944788.0
@ABC @michellemalkin that bear wants to eat him.β Josh Cooper (@Josh Cooper)1528926550.0
It didn't take long for a debate against animals in captivity to ignite.
@marshalederman Seeing wild animals imprisoned for human entertainment doesn't soothe my soul. Quite the opposite actually.β GR: 1.61803398875 (@GR: 1.61803398875)1528968012.0
@ABC The bear should be in the wild.β 4645 Never forget π΅π· (@4645 Never forget π΅π·)1528927677.0
@NYNURSE10550 @ABC Do you know how many bears are killed by humans in the wildβ anabelle lee (@anabelle lee)1528930543.0
@PoesLilHelper @NYNURSE10550 @ABC Animals in captivity have a lesser life expectancy, than when free. It cuts theirβ¦ https://t.co/mpvfhEMcZVβ Queen Elle (@Queen Elle)1528933522.0
@BrunetteBunny20 @PoesLilHelper @NYNURSE10550 @ABC Heβs completely right. Use google. Zoos arenβt sea world. Zoologβ¦ https://t.co/L7uI8SclUsβ Dallas Hammer (@Dallas Hammer)1528936113.0
Still, paws down, this video is pretty darn cute, and most people viewed it as a welcome reprieve from other negative news headlines in the world.
@ABC Nice!! What a beautiful boy and a gorgeous bear! πβ fanny duarte (@fanny duarte)1528936706.0
@ABC Thanks for making my day, @ABC. This is great. ππβ Danny Brassell, PhD (@Danny Brassell, PhD)1528933385.0
The best thing I've seen all year. https://t.co/YLiGBebcCaβ Russell (@Russell)1528930180.0
@ABC Well that is just amazing! and lovely and thank youβ mspjh (@mspjh)1528927541.0
@marshalederman @olivaki Hahaaaa! Weβre all Godβs creationβ shadreck dianna (@shadreck dianna)1528990179.0