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发帖数: 15215 | 1 'Mother of all animals': Velga Vitola hand reared Ilzite after discovering
the orphaned bear in the woods
Newborn: Ilzite was a tiny newborn cub when it was first discovered by Ms
Vitola in the forest
Bear hug: Ms Vitola cuddles her 'third child' Ilzite the bear
Pampered pet: Ilzite slept in a cot complete with cuddly toys at Ms Vitola's
home in Latvia
Flat-out: Ms Vitola originally brought home two bear cubs, but one sadly
died
Abandoned: Ilzite can be seen lolling on the sofa at the Vitola's home in
the woods
Growing up: Velga's pet cat has some competition for its snack from growing
bear Ilzite
Menagerie: Ms Vitola has cared for dozens of animals during her years in the
woods, including hedgehogs, elks and, of course, Ilzite the bear
Family life: Ilzite the bear almost looks ready to help with the baskets of
potatoes in this picture
Play-time: Ilzite had plenty of places to play around the Vitolas' home in
Ligatne National Park
Bit of a handful: Growing bear Ilzite tips a rubbish bin in the snow outside
Ms Vitola's home
Goldilocks has nothing on this wood-dwelling mother who raised an orphaned
wild bear alongside her children.
Velga Vitola made a home for the abandoned bear cub - named Ilzite - in her
shack in dense Latvian woodland, where it played with her children, joined
in on family walks, and even slept in the 55-year-old's bed.The passionate
animal lover said her family regard the wild bear as a sibling, adding: 'I
raised three children - a son, a daughter, and a bear.
New addition: Velga brought Ilzite home with her after discovering the
abandoned bear in dense woodland near her home in Latvia
Ms Vitola stumbled across Ilzite along with another abandoned bear cub in
the dense forest surrounding her home in Latvia's Ligatne National Park, and
immediately whisked them back to her shack to raise them herself.'Both my
bears grew up in the house. They woke my kids up for school every morning,'
she said.One of the cubs later died, but Ilzite thrived with the Vitola
family, developing a strong bond with Velga in particular.'She loves to give
me, her mum, a kiss - any other human would lose their head if they tried
it.'We just love each other,' she added.Ms Vitola suspects her beloved
Ilzite has grown up believing it is a human being rather than a bear.'Once
she saw her reflection in the window. It sounded like thunder, she was
growling so loudly because she thought she looked like me - her mum,' she
said.
Grin and bear it: Velga Vitola said Ilzite the bear is part of her family
Along for the ride: Ilzite the bear peers out of the window of Velga Vitola'
s car as it joins her for a spin
Need some help? Bear cub Ilzite takes a peep as Ms Vitola's son Dzintars,
then nine, does his homework
Nap-time: Ms Vitola let Ilzite the bear sleep in her bed when it was younger
Right at home: The wild bear kicks back on the sofa
Loving home: The growing bear is seen eating bread from a bucket, left, and
playing with a toy on the sofa, right
Motherly love: Velga Vitola said Ilzite's 'bear kisses and hugs' make her
happy
Playful: A young Ilzite is seen investigating a watering can at its home in
Latvia
Big bear: Ilzite enjoys cuddles, walks, and drives with the Vitola family
Part of the family: Ilzite, seen left with Ms Vitola's son Dzintars, has now
grown to big to live in the house, but the wild bear is still regarded as
part of the family Ilzite is not the only unusual pet Ms Vitola - dubbed '
the mother of all animals' - has made a home for. Her menagerie of wild
creatures has included everything from hedgehogs to an elk named Freddie
during her 22 years of living in the woods.'Once I woke up because a pair of
wild geese were in my bedroom,' she said.And the kind-hearted 55-year-old
brushes off suggestions her living situation is anything other than ideal.'
When I considered moving here my mum said: "Are you crazy?"' 'She said: "
What will you die out there?", but I told her I didn't care.'This is the
place of my happiest moments. All of those moments are about animals.'I feel
like this is my place in the world,' she added.
Ilzite
the bear is now ten-years-old and has grown so big it lives outside the
home, but still regularly accompanies its 'mother' on her walks through
the forest.'Once we both went for a walk along the wild boars enclosure, she
was only one year old at the time and was afraid of them,' Ms Vitola said.
'She clung to my legs and started to growl at them. 'She felt safe because
her mum was there. I told her: "You crazy bear, I will be the first to run."
''I need those moments, the bear kisses and hugs to feel happy and free. '
People can be two faced, but when an animal looks at you he is only himself.
'We can learn a lot from them.' | e****o
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