00:00There are all sorts of reasons why a special bond between two people can form.
00:05They might be family, close friends, or simply two strangers who experienced an extraordinary moment together.
00:12As special as human connection can be, a bond between an animal and a person is just as incredible.
00:19Believe it or not, most animals are able to recognize when someone forms a close relationship with them,
00:25and that camaraderie can last a lifetime.
00:28A 71-year-old fisherman from Brazil named Joao Piera de Souza has been getting visits from a very special
00:35friend for the last four years.
00:37Once you find out who Joao's friend is and why he's so important, you'll understand just how unique of a
00:43bond they have.
00:59When an emotional bond forms between two humans, both people benefit.
01:04Sometimes, though, a special connection between an animal and a human occurs, and it's equally as important.
01:11Just ask this Brazilian fisherman named Joao Piera de Souza.
01:15For the last four years, he's been getting visits from a very special and unique friend.
01:19But the reason behind their friendship makes the story even more amazing.
01:2571-year-old Joao has lived on the Brazilian island of Ilha Grande his entire life,
01:31and he makes his living as a part-time fisherman.
01:34In 2011, while he was out at sea, he made an incredibly upsetting discovery on a large rock protruding out
01:41of the water near his boat.
01:43There, sprawled out on the jagged surface of the rock, was a young Magellanic penguin,
01:48who was covered in oil from head to toe and dying of starvation.
01:52There was no way Joao could leave the penguin behind to die.
01:56He knew he had to do something.
01:59Joao immediately brought the penguin, whom he named Dindim, aboard his fishing vessel and took him back to his home.
02:06The penguin was struggling to breathe through the oil that was caked onto his beak.
02:10Joao took him into his kitchen and began to clean him.
02:14It took over a week for Joao to completely remove the oil off of Dindim's body.
02:20During that time, Joao fed him a steady diet of fish, and the little animal slowly regained his strength.
02:27Eventually, it was time for Joao to set Dindim free again.
02:31He knew that the incident had brought them close together,
02:34but he had to let his new friend return to the ocean where he belonged.
02:37However, Joao had no idea what was in store for him the following year.
02:44After Joao released Dindim back into the ocean, he was sure that their paths would never cross again.
02:50They shared a very emotional week together, but it was now over, and Joao needed to move on.
02:56A few months later, though, while he was readying his boat for departure,
03:00he saw something that made his heart melt.
03:03It was Dindim.
03:04The penguin had actually returned to the island to visit his human friend.
03:09He instantly recognized Joao and returned home with him.
03:12It was as if no time had passed at all.
03:15Joao immediately treated his old friend to a delicious fish dinner to celebrate.
03:21Dindim spent the next several months at Joao's home in Ilha Grande.
03:25He would join him on his fishing boat almost every day.
03:29The connection they had formed was astounding.
03:31It was unlike any relationship Joao ever had.
03:35Dindim knew how vital a role Joao played in his survival,
03:39and he wanted to make sure Joao knew it.
03:42Dindim eventually returned to the ocean again,
03:45but he has visited the Brazilian island every year since 2012
03:49to spend time with the fisherman who saved his life.
03:52He apparently journeys over 5,000 miles every time.
03:56He spends eight months out of the year with Joao
03:59and the rest of the time breeding off the coast of Argentina and Chile.
04:03Joao even introduced his penguin pal to his grandchildren.
04:07Joao and Dindim developed a very special bond
04:11that will most likely last the rest of their lives.
04:13Joao sees Dindim as an equal,
04:16and he knows that the penguin reciprocates the feeling.
04:18Joao never thought that a penguin could bring his life new meaning,
04:23but he's thankful every day that Dindim did.
04:26Joao and Dindim truly have a unique relationship.
04:30This story proves that no matter what species you are,
04:34the bond of friendship can never be broken.
04:36but he seems the best.
04:41Joao and Dindimж daran
04:42Joao and Dindim
