Brown bear

Brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a large and massive animal, reaching 2.8 meters long and up to 600 kg in weight which makes it one of the largest land predators. It is distinguished by its thick fur coat and a small tail. While looking huge and clumsy, brown bears can be extremely stealthy and agile, easily running at 50 km/h speed, swimming against the current and climbing trees.

Brown bears are solitary animals, feeding on mostly plant-based products, such as berries, roots and nuts, yet the list also includes insects, fish, rodents and whatever carrion they can take from other predators like wolves or even tigers. When hungry they are known for hunting boars, deer and even moose. In winter, bears hibernate, with hibernation lasting from 2.5 to 6 months.

Their high intelligence made them characters of hundreds of folk tales, songs and poems, and their strength and resilience made them an unofficial symbol of Russia. The bear is depicted on the coats of arms of many Russian cities and regions, for example, Novgorod, Yaroslavl, Perm and Khabarovsk.