ZOMG. The feels. All of the feels.
The photo above is of a Holland zoo worker named Mario saying one final goodbye to the giraffes that he spent his entire life caring for!
Mario, 54, has terminal cancer and doctors expect him to live for only a few more weeks.
But before he passes, he requested that his hospital bed be rolled to the giraffe enclosure that he’s worked in for so long in order to say farewell to his long-necked friends.
As if that wasn’t tear-enducing enough, during his visit, one of the giraffes approached Mario, leaned down and kissed him!
Nope. We can’t even. Sobs on sobs on sobs.
Such a BEAUTIFUL photograph! Such a BEAUTIFUL bond!
Ambulance Wish Foundation granted Mario his dying wish and transported him to and from the zoo that day. Organization founder Kees Veldboer recalled just how AH-Mazing the moment was, explaining:
“These animals recognized him, and felt that [things aren├óΓé¼Γäót] going well with him. [It was] a very special moment. You saw him beaming.├óΓé¼┬¥
It sort of amazes us that a story like this can come out just one month after another zoo a few hundred miles away SHOT AND KILLED one of their giraffes on purpose!
We like it better when zookeepers kiss the animals they’re in charge of caring for, instead of putting a bullet in their head!
You’re amazing, Mario! And you won’t soon be forgotten by these guys!
[Image via Facebook.]