A Bear and An Old Man: “Is this for real?”

@Shavkat (137238)

Philippines

April 18, 2018 7:43pm CST

There are times that we are in a moment of looking back the past. Today, I am reminiscing the unforgettable experience living in Tajikistan in 2010. Everything is new to me and the excitement still lingers in my mind. In the month of April 2010, I landed and stayed in Dushanbe, Tajikistan for a week before going to my placement area. During my stay in the capital, I met a bear and an old man. It sounds not real but I was with them on a bus. At first, I was quite scared because of a wild bear. It might be in rage if being agitated for some reasons. But, it seems the bear was so tamed and the local people are so comfortable seeing her and the owner. “Have you ever seen a wild bear up close?” “Do you still reminisce the unforgettable experience of the past?” "Is it right to chain the wild bear?" Image Credit: pbs.twimg.com

20 people like this

20 responses

@JudyEv (326301)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Apr 18

This would certainly be a unique experience but I have to feel a bit sorry for the bear.

2 people like this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

19 Apr 18

I do agree. Maria was in a chain. It should be living in the wild.

2 people like this

Louise Crisologo

@mlgen1037 (29886)

• Manila, Philippines

19 Apr 18

No I havent. I would run away if I do. Haha. Yes, I still reminisce and those memories still make me smile.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

19 Apr 18

In this country, I had done a lot of things that I haven't done in my entire life. I wish I can go back in this country. I still have news from those people whom I touched their heart. They still use my book that was being created during my stay there. I wish I can publish the book.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

19 Apr 18

@mlgen1037 Actually, the book is all set for publishing. However, I cannot find an illustrator. He needs to do the photos of the book. Any idea where I can find an affordable illustrator?

1 person likes this

Louise Crisologo

@mlgen1037 (29886)

• Manila, Philippines

19 Apr 18

@Shavkat Yes please and share it to us so we can buy and read it.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@rebelann (111306)

• El Paso, Texas

19 Apr 18

Oh wow, I have never even seen a bear other than in photos. How interesting. It looks like the bear was like a pet for the old man.

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@rebelann (111306)

• El Paso, Texas

20 Apr 18

I hope the old man lived long @Shavkat I would hate to think the bear lost his friend and then had no home anymore.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

19 Apr 18

I think they call her Maria. She was a good companion of the old man. I find it quite interesting to see them walking around the capital. Image Credit: i.pinimg.com

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

20 Apr 18

@rebelann I agree. I hope that Maria will still have a better home if he ever passed away.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@cintol (11261)

• United States

27 Apr 18

I wonder how long he has had the bear, from birth maybe. That bear looks pretty healthy and they both look happy, I bet he takes very good care of that bear.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

27 Apr 18

I think he did take good care of the bear. I am not sure if he had her as a baby.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

27 Apr 18

@cintol I think, my friend. Perhaps there are some poachers in the country.

1 person likes this

@cintol (11261)

• United States

27 Apr 18

@Shavkat So that bear may be having a better life with the man than if he were free

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@ridingbet (66857)

• Philippines

19 Apr 18

but still, a bear is naturally wild. if it is intimidated, it can cause harm to the people around him

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

19 Apr 18

I agree. That's why I moved to another seat.lol As we usually seen in movies, they are quite agitated.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

19 Apr 18

@ridingbet Yes, Kabsat. I think he still with this old man. In my opinion, he is the first man who had such pet in the country.

1 person likes this

@ridingbet (66857)

• Philippines

19 Apr 18

@Shavkat is the bear still alive today, kabsat?

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@db20747 (43434)

• Washington, District Of Columbia

27 Apr 18

My goodness it's real!!! What a site to see!!!! The bear is so cute!! Maybe its a baby bear!!!

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

27 Apr 18

I am not sure if it is still a baby bear. I find it cute, too. At first, I got scared and it was my first time to see a wild bear up close.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

27 Apr 18

@db20747 I am just bein a safe mode when seeing them. I managed to transfer my bus seat that time.

1 person likes this

@db20747 (43434)

• Washington, District Of Columbia

27 Apr 18

@Shavkat I would be scared too!!!

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

19 Apr 18

i have. in our travels there was a road side quick stop that sold snacks and things and had a bear that you could give nuts and stuff to. like it was their pet

1 person likes this

show previous comments

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

20 Apr 18

@Shavkat i never asked. no idea. he was sure cute though even as large as he was. he would dance and hold a bottle in his hand/paw and drink from it like a human

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

20 Apr 18

@bunnybon7 That's cute for him to do. If I have seen it, I will feel the same way.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

20 Apr 18

Wow! It is nice that you had encountered seeing a wild bear that was trained. I find it interesting how did the owners tame their wild animal pets.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@caopaopao (12395)

• China

19 Apr 18

I feel it's dangerous. Why did he do that? Wild bear should live in the forest.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

19 Apr 18

It is really dangerous to be up close to wild animals. I personally think that the old man made it as his pet.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

19 Apr 18

1 person likes this

@caopaopao (12395)

• China

19 Apr 18

@Shavkat Yeah, a dangerous pet.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

ultraman cosmos

@id_peace (14005)

• Singapore

14 May 18

I only see sun bear in the zoo

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

14 May 18

Same here. This is my first time to see up close.

1 person likes this

@Freelanzer (10744)

• Canada

20 Apr 18

I never saw a bear up close but the story behind Winnie The Pooh (a cartoon) is based on the real life story of a soldier who has a pet bear and even took him to war with him and he was loved by all.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

20 Apr 18

I haven't heard the story. It seems that wild bear can be our pet. I like Winnie the Pooh.

1 person likes this

@DianneN (247219)

• United States

20 Apr 18

That would be against the law here - having a wild animal and allowing one on public transportation. I don't believe in chaining any animal.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

20 Apr 18

I agree. It is also the same thing here. It is quite alarming that this country's government seems so lax with their standard laws. I am not also in favor of chaining the animals.

@Shiva49 (26231)

• Singapore

20 Apr 18

A wild animal is a wild animal and can react naturally anytime even if it is not provoked. We have elephants in India and Thailand that are tamed but turn violent to cause deaths. It is not right to restrict the wild bear against its natural instincts - siva

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

20 Apr 18

You have a point. It shouldn't be, right? I hope these people who have wild animals should bring them back to their respective habitats.

1 person likes this

@Hannihar (129600)

• Israel

20 Apr 18

@Shavkat I have only seen a bear in zoo. I would be shocked at first if I saw a bear on bus. That is interesting.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

20 Apr 18

It was also my first reaction. I had to transfer when seeing them enter the bus. Regardless, it was a good experience to see a wild bear and be a pet of this old man.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

20 Apr 18

@Hannihar I have also the same thinking. I hope he didn't hit her.

1 person likes this

@Hannihar (129600)

• Israel

20 Apr 18

@Shavkat I would say it is different. I wonder how he tamed him?

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@MsBooklover (3974)

• United States

19 Apr 18

For some reason, the fur on that bear does not look real to me. It is hard to believe that it would be legal for him to be traveling with a bear. That looks like a costume to me.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

19 Apr 18

Actually, I also think the same thing when I was there. However, they allowed him to walk around the city with the bear. I changed the photo. I guess it doesn't look real so I had changed the photo. Image Credit: pbs.twimg.com

1 person likes this

@MsBooklover (3974)

• United States

19 Apr 18

@Shavkat It is his fur and the fact that he is allowed to hang out on a bus...etc. We cannot do that in the USA....it is just hard to imagine.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

19 Apr 18

@MsBooklover I do think it is not allowed in other parts of the countries. It was really a new experience during that time.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@youless (112140)

• Guangzhou, China

19 Apr 18

I am not sure whether this bear is trained by the circus or not. If so, then this bear just hides its nature. If this bear is a pet, perhaps this picture will look differently.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

19 Apr 18

In this picture, the wild bear is the old man's pet. On the other hand, I think this bear should not be in the city. Image Credit: i.pinimg.com

1 person likes this

@STOUTjodee (3572)

• United States

19 Apr 18

I think animals sometimes are like humans, they can adapt to their surroundings. Look at all the different animals from the wild that are in zoos. So, I believe it could be real.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

20 Apr 18

Uhm Maria the bear and the old man are real. I had seen them in the capital of Tajikistan. It was scary at first. But I had seen how tame the bear is.

@epiffanie (11326)

• Australia

19 Apr 18

That is one of the most cruel things we humans do to wild animals.. we deny them of their right to live how they are meant to live..

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

19 Apr 18

I agree. It looks amazing but the mere fact, this kind of animal should live in his or her habitat.

1 person likes this

@jobelbojel (34730)

• Philippines

19 Apr 18

The photo looks legit. I want to see some wild animals.

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

19 Apr 18

It is a legit photo. I wasn’t able to take a photo of them when staying in Tajikistan before.

@hostessman (11871)

• Tucson, Arizona

19 Apr 18

i will stick with my pup as my pet thank you

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (137238)

• Philippines

20 Apr 18

I agree. I don't want to in danger myself having a wild bear as a pet.

1 person likes this

@aureliah (24321)

• Kenya

14 May 18

A bear posing like that? I would really want to see this upclose and candid