A girl from Florida had an unforgettable encounter with a polar bear that sent her running for safety.
In a clip on TikTok, mom Shannon Kelly (@nomadicshannon) shows her daughter Lennon pressed up against the glass of the massive water enclosure at the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg, Canada.
“We had just gotten to the zoo and were one of the first visitors of the day,” Shannon told Newsweek. “It was calm and quiet, and we were not expecting anything wild to happen.”
@nomadicshannon
Then, out of nowhere, a polar bear dives into the water and swims straight toward her until its nose nearly touches the glass.
Startled, Lennon bolts from the scene, while also sending another child tumbling in the rush to escape.
Shannon said that the family had been watching from another viewing area when the bears began showing interest in the children.
“One bear was slowly stepping into the water, so we thought that was what we would see,” she added. “What we did not expect was for another polar bear to dive right in and come up face-to-face with my daughter.”
Though Lennon fled in fear at first, Shannon said that the moment has since become a family favorite.
“She was definitely scared in that moment, but it was such a priceless reaction,” Shannon added. “Now she loves watching the video over and over and laughs about it.”
For Shannon, who grew up in South Florida, the experience was especially surreal.
“I never imagined I would be face-to-face with a polar bear,” she said. “It was amazing to see how curious and playful they were, and it made me appreciate even more how the zoo cares for them and rescues orphaned cubs.”
Shannon’s clip has almost 1 million views on TikTok and hundreds of users sparked a mixed response in the comments.
“I honestly think the bears try to scare people on purpose sometimes,” one user posted.
“I know that bear was CACKLING,” another wrote.
“I thought the video was funny and that people might enjoy it on TikTok, but I never expected it to be that many views, especially since I only had about 350 followers when I posted it,” Shannon said.
However, many others were concerned for the animals’ welfare and found it upsetting to see the polar bear in what they deemed “confined spaces.”
Shannon said she found the comments “a little chaotic.”
“Some people are just happy to see the video, others are defending the zoo’s conservation efforts, and some are criticizing the idea of zoos,” Shannon added.
“I try to stay out of that and focus on the fact that people are, in general, happy and laughing with me. I am glad I got to share a happy memory with so many people.”
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