We’re not sure how animal rights activists are going to react to somebody strapping a GoPro camera to the beak of a pelican but we’re positive they can’t deny that this latest animal-and-human meet-cute is as inspiring as its video is adorable.
The story begins on the shore of Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania in East Africa. A 3-month-old pelican, who is now called Big Bird, waddled up the shore much to the amazement of the Greystoke Mahale guests. He was young and couldn’t feed as his kind catch their fish through teamwork, much like dolphins, instead of the usual dive-and-catch technique. He also couldn’t fly just yet and he was a long way from home (around 150 kms or farther).
So he owners of the camp took Big Bird under their wing, no pun intended. They got permission from the park authority to feed him, so he can survive without his flock. Then they tried to teach him to fly, by flapping their arms in front of him to simulate flying. It took him a few tries and some not-so-very graceful landings but he pretty soon, he was able to master flying! And they were able to capture one of his beautiful, albeit short, flights with a GoPro strapped to his beak.
Watch Big Bird’s amazing feat in the video after the jump.