In the world of extraordinary animal-human relationships, there’s one that stands out like no other—the remarkable bond between Mark Dumas and his beloved polar bear, Agee. While human-animal relationships are commonplace with domesticated animals like cats and dogs, the connection shared by Mark and Agee is truly unique and rarely witnessed between wild animals and humans.

In the wild, male polar bears can grow to a staggering 1,500 pounds when fully grown, while female polar bears weigh in at approximately 1,000 pounds. These majestic creatures are not your typical backyard companions, making the bond between Agee and Mark all the more exceptional. Their extraordinary journey began 18 years ago.

Mark Dumas, an animal trainer for films, was tasked with finding a polar bear for a movie. That’s when he heard about an eight-week-old polar bear being hand-reared at a zoo. The cub, named Agee, had an older mother who had previously given birth to ten cubs and could no longer care for this little one adequately.

Taking on the responsibility of raising and training Agee for the film, Mark had no idea of the extraordinary bond that would form between them. “It’s my job, and it’s what I had to do, and then as I’m doing it, I became very, very attached to her,” Mark explained. Their bond is unlike any other; Mark is the only person in the world who shares this type of relationship with a polar bear.

“I love her a lot. I can’t say she loves me, but she really is bonded to me,” he shared. Mark’s wife, Dawn, also interviewed by Animal Planet, quickly affirmed that Agee loves him just as much.

Agee and Mark share an unbreakable bond that Mark wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. They also revealed that Agee can become protective and even slightly aggressive when others vie for Mark’s attention. However, Dawn assured that Agee is accustomed to her voice and doesn’t mind her presence.

To this day, Mark remains Agee’s primary guardian, provider, and playmate. During interviews, Agee and Mark exhibit the depth of their relationship. It’s evident how close they are and how much they care for one another. Mark emphasized that he has never felt in danger around Agee.

“Agee sees him as her mother and father together, really. And companion,” Dawn said, describing her husband’s special bond with Agee. When Agee and Mark are together, Agee emits a sound akin to a cat purring. Dawn explained that Agee purrs because she is exceptionally content when she’s with Mark. You can hear her purring in the video, and it’s reminiscent of a soft engine running.

While some may question why a fully-grown polar bear isn’t in the wild, one thing is undeniable—Mark and Agee share an unbreakable bond. Mark loves Agee, and as much as animals can love humans, Agee loves him right back. After all, he raised and cared for her since she was a cub, making them an inseparable part of each other’s family with a unique bond that no one can break.