I love watching nature shows. They’re a fascinating look into the lives of creatures we don’t get to spend face time with. Considering not many of us get to live in the dense rainforest or sprawling desert, these shows serve as a way for us civilized city folk to see how wild animals live. It’s not like I can look out my window and get up close and personal to a jaguar or gorilla. Watching nature documentaries are the only way I can get an inside look at how they act in the wild, in their natural surroundings and habitat. And to be honest, I feel more comfortable watching these animals on my TV screen or from behind a glass window.
While nature shows are a wonderful educational tool (don’t you just love how the narration does such a good job of weaving in a story with facts?), it’s pretty darn cool to meet an animal in the flesh; and as a kid, it leaves such an impact. You don’t forget the first time you meet your favourite animal. But let’s flip the script for a second, if such an encounter has an impact on humans, surely it must leave an impression on the animal, right?
In this adorable clip, we get to see exactly that, a sea lion who is just as emotionally driven as the little girl. At the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington DC, USA, onlookers are delighted as they watch the small girl in a blue dress run back and forth across the window of the sea lion habitat. She’s made a new friend with one of the younger pups and wants to play. She starts the game by running to and fro, the pup on the other side of the glass is eager to follow suit! He’s just as playful and as game as she is!
Everyone is watching these two youngins frolic. You can hear the oohs and aahs in the background and comments like, “…he loves you!” and, “Look at him, he just loves her. That’s hilarious!” It’s a really sweet bonding moment between the two kids. While sea lions are a little more coordinated and can stop on a dime, humans are not quite as agile. As the two are playing keep up with each other, the little girl trips and falls, but it’s what happens next that reinforces how sensitive animals really are.
Right after the little girl trips, the sea lion immediately takes notice and slams on his brakes! He stops swimming and turns back to look at her, appearing alarmed and worried about what just happened. He appears concerned, his body language like that of a human who just saw something and has his guard up! This reaction is so heartwarming because it shows he cares. He truly connected with the little girl and wanted to see if she was ok.
Click below to watch the video that’s racked up over 20 million views! It’s just too sweet.
