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Russian Woman Rescued A Bear From A Closed-Down Zoo, And They’re Best Buddies Now
Though Russia’s coat of arms is a double-headed eagle, the bear is the unofficial mascot of Russia, and some might say even more popular and widely associated with the country. While the rest of the world prefers cats and dogs, seemingly only Russians can prefer bears as pets. Today’s story is exactly about that.
Novosibirsk resident Veronica Dichka can proudly say that Archie is her trusty companion. Archie, who is also from Novosibirsk, was initially rescued from a circus by Maya Kirsanova as a cub. He lived in a safari park along with a few other bears until it had to close down due to the pandemic. As time passed, it became increasingly difficult to maintain the shelter, and that’s where the brave Veronica came into the picture and adopted him. It’s worth mentioning that Veronica previously worked with the bear on a few photoshoots, but was only an acquaintance to Archie. But now they’re inseparable, and the photos you’ll see below are a testament to their special relationship.
More info: Instagram | tiktok.com
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Meet Veronica and Archie, a bear rescued from the circus two years ago because it didn’t get enough food
Image credits: dichkaaaaa
Veronica adopted Archie later on, as the bear didn’t have a reliable shelter after the local zoo was closed due to the pandemic
Image credits: dichkaaaaa
Archie was born in captivity, and couldn’t survive without the help of humans
Image credits: dichkaaaaa
The unlikely couple are from Novosibirsk, Russia, and they have a jovial relationship
Image credits: dichkaaaaa
Archie is very smart, knows a lot of tricks and is very disciplined
Image credits: dichkaaaaa
Veronica is a model, a professional dancer, and a passionate fishing enthusiast
Image credits: dichkaaaaa
Archie recently even joined Veronica on a fishing trip
Image credits: dichkaaaaa
Archie is very well fed as opposed to before. He doesn’t even need to hibernate
Image credits: dichkaaaaa
Veronica knows the true meaning of a bear hug
Image credits: dichkaaaaa
They spend every day together
Image credits: dichkaaaaa
Archie sees Veronica as a member of his family. They share food, Archie sleeps in her arms, and hides behind her when afraid
Image credits: dichkaaaaa
Archie and Veronica are happy to have each other
Image credits: dichkaaaaa
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What do you think ?
Aliquid A 4 years ago
Her motivation seems more about getting good photoshoots, rather than caring about the welfare of the animal.
Troux 4 years ago
Why can't it be both? Just because she wants attention doesn't mean she starves and abuses animals.
Load More Replies...
Linda HS 4 years ago (edited)
As much as I love the fact that the bear was saved, I do not agree with this style of life for the bear. She is so much into posing and getting “likes” and so on, that I am afraid that everybody will want a bear or a lion or a tiger or something exotic to get “likes” and followers and so on…As I said, thank you for saving him, but this is just not ok.
Sark Aztik 4 years ago
Most people aren't that stupid. They know bears are dangerous and steer clear of them. The situation in this article has happened on several occasions in Russia for over a decade now (at least on social media, mostly definitely longer outside of it) and a sudden "exotic pet" craze has not begun. I'm all for "do what you want if it only affects you.". If she wants to take the risk of having a bear instead of finding a more suitable home for it, that's her decision so long as she doesn't neglect it... just a very stupid one.
Load More Replies...
Rannveig Ess 4 years ago
He's not a prop for attention in your social media shoots. He belongs in a wildlife refuge where he can have stimulus that's in measure with being a bear, learn to fish and search for food (that will always be there) and play, like a bear.
Sark Aztik 4 years ago
Probably the only sensible comment I've seen, although you assuming she treats it only as a prop for photoshoots is based out of ignorance as opposed to facts. You don't know how she treats it the 99% of the time she's not on camera.
Load More Replies...
Enea 4 years ago
Please stop featuring posts of young women 'rescuing' exotic animals and then posing with them. This is the third post about Russian professional models, who all happen to be very experienced caretakers, and their exotic pets. It creates a dangerous precedence, and it's your responsibility to stop featuring these unlikely 'rescue' stories. There are actually institutions that work to save animals and maintain proper sanctuaries. Please feature them.
BluEyedSeoulite 4 years ago
If she happens to have a friend that is a photographer and they take some shots while she is playing with Archie, no harm and those are the pics I like anyway. The other super staged ones aren't great and makes Archie seem like a prop
F. H. 4 years ago
I always have doubts about these stories. It seems to be rather easy to get exotic pets in Russia and some people keep them just for the publicity. It looks like this is the case here.
Sark Aztik 4 years ago
Because she has some photos with the bear and acts super serious in them? That's your logic? She doesn't live in front of the camera, so you've no idea how she treats it.
Load More Replies...
Rens 4 years ago
As long as the bear is well fed and taking care of who cares whether she takes photos or not. The bear looks happy and healthy and if that has how they make good money, why not? If anybody wants to be outraged why don't they get outraged about circuses still having animals performing in them??
Zydakohdee-O 4 years ago
I just worry for the woman. Wild animals, even those born in captivity, are still wild. They still have urges and instincts of a wild animals. They weren't domesticated for centuries to have bread those urges out. This will be another travesty that we will read about a few years from now. People always seem to think "but he loves me" or " she's my bff, she wouldn't ever hurt me." Worst case is she'll survive the attack and half her face will be shredded from her head.
Heather G 4 years ago
Even domesticated animals like cats will bite at you. Difference is size. You will likely only have an "ow" reaction to a cat's bite. A bear who is not bread to live with humans is going to have a very different reaction
Load More Replies... 
Ten G. 4 years ago
The Bear IS a wild animal,but it does seem that the Woman is taking very good care of her. The article states that he was born in capetivdiy and couldn't survive without humans. And that he is more well fed than before.
Sark Aztik 4 years ago
If anything she seems to be taking proper care of it, but she should really be trying to find a sanctuary for him to be moved to so he can be rehabilitated and learn to live like a bear. Not really about her safety but moreso the bear's. If she dies or perhaps mauled by the thing, the bear is going to likely just be killed or left to die because it has no experience in the wild.
Load More Replies...
monstakiwi 4 years ago
Why do these pics look more like engagement shots than anything else....?
Deon Bothma 2 years ago
Most of you with your negative views are all American a**e wipes, go sniff Joe Biden, maybe you will all feel wet
Renee Potter 4 years ago
Have any of you spent time with the Russian woman and the bear? Assumptions denotes ignorance.
Anya Garza 4 years ago
It takes A LOT to care for ANY pet for them to show this much affection toward you, let anole a bear. This relationship is NOT one-sided, I don’t care for all these comments! Veronica has dedicated a good portion of her life to take care of this animal, and it’s ongoing … I thinks it’s very admirable!
John Bartholomew 4 years ago
Next time in "Bear Monthly"::When food invites you into their home.
Stephanie Keith 4 years ago
The amount of ignorance in these comments. It's gotten to a point where I lie to myself and say people cannot be this stupid. Just judging and saying stuff that makes no sense. These people truly are the worst.
Trish Smith 4 years ago
I think the photos, and Archie, are beautiful!! I'm not going to get into the "correctness" of it all.
Samantha PandaNotBored 4 years ago
I need to know more. What a fabulous ending . I hope he lives a long and happy ever after life , and not be used for instants etc
Viviane 4 years ago (edited)
You could get a dog that looks like a bear. It's a lot of trouble to own a wild animal: you might have to move to a place where it's allowed, research any health problems, then you'd have to get enough room and stimulation for it, food, a vet that is specialized in that species, will the animal outlive you, who can take care of it if you can't, etc. Another issue: would you be supporting unethical practices? For example, baby monkeys are taken from their captive mothers too young. If wild, the mothers and other adults are killed when they defend the baby. Zoos won't take many animals, especially primates, because those raised by human don't get along with captive primates that live in groups. Sanctuaries often have waiting lists.
Load More Replies...
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 4 years ago
Not Russophobe at all. Just phobic of people doing dumb, dangerous stuff that endangers them and the animals they 'provide for' for photoshoots. There's a lot of amazing Russian people that should be featured here. But we only get to see pretty women with dangerous-but-fluffy animals.
Load More Replies...
Aliquid A 4 years ago
The bear was a circus bear, then it was rescued, and now it is a circus bear again... the audience just happens to be online now.
Load More Replies... Aliquid A 4 years ago
Her motivation seems more about getting good photoshoots, rather than caring about the welfare of the animal.
Troux 4 years ago
Why can't it be both? Just because she wants attention doesn't mean she starves and abuses animals.
Load More Replies... Linda HS 4 years ago (edited)
As much as I love the fact that the bear was saved, I do not agree with this style of life for the bear. She is so much into posing and getting “likes” and so on, that I am afraid that everybody will want a bear or a lion or a tiger or something exotic to get “likes” and followers and so on…As I said, thank you for saving him, but this is just not ok.
Sark Aztik 4 years ago
Most people aren't that stupid. They know bears are dangerous and steer clear of them. The situation in this article has happened on several occasions in Russia for over a decade now (at least on social media, mostly definitely longer outside of it) and a sudden "exotic pet" craze has not begun. I'm all for "do what you want if it only affects you.". If she wants to take the risk of having a bear instead of finding a more suitable home for it, that's her decision so long as she doesn't neglect it... just a very stupid one.
Load More Replies... Rannveig Ess 4 years ago
He's not a prop for attention in your social media shoots. He belongs in a wildlife refuge where he can have stimulus that's in measure with being a bear, learn to fish and search for food (that will always be there) and play, like a bear.
Sark Aztik 4 years ago
Probably the only sensible comment I've seen, although you assuming she treats it only as a prop for photoshoots is based out of ignorance as opposed to facts. You don't know how she treats it the 99% of the time she's not on camera.
Load More Replies... Enea 4 years ago
Please stop featuring posts of young women 'rescuing' exotic animals and then posing with them. This is the third post about Russian professional models, who all happen to be very experienced caretakers, and their exotic pets. It creates a dangerous precedence, and it's your responsibility to stop featuring these unlikely 'rescue' stories. There are actually institutions that work to save animals and maintain proper sanctuaries. Please feature them.
BluEyedSeoulite 4 years ago
If she happens to have a friend that is a photographer and they take some shots while she is playing with Archie, no harm and those are the pics I like anyway. The other super staged ones aren't great and makes Archie seem like a prop
F. H. 4 years ago
I always have doubts about these stories. It seems to be rather easy to get exotic pets in Russia and some people keep them just for the publicity. It looks like this is the case here.
Sark Aztik 4 years ago
Because she has some photos with the bear and acts super serious in them? That's your logic? She doesn't live in front of the camera, so you've no idea how she treats it.
Load More Replies... Rens 4 years ago
As long as the bear is well fed and taking care of who cares whether she takes photos or not. The bear looks happy and healthy and if that has how they make good money, why not? If anybody wants to be outraged why don't they get outraged about circuses still having animals performing in them??
Zydakohdee-O 4 years ago
I just worry for the woman. Wild animals, even those born in captivity, are still wild. They still have urges and instincts of a wild animals. They weren't domesticated for centuries to have bread those urges out. This will be another travesty that we will read about a few years from now. People always seem to think "but he loves me" or " she's my bff, she wouldn't ever hurt me." Worst case is she'll survive the attack and half her face will be shredded from her head.
Heather G 4 years ago
Even domesticated animals like cats will bite at you. Difference is size. You will likely only have an "ow" reaction to a cat's bite. A bear who is not bread to live with humans is going to have a very different reaction
Load More Replies... Ten G. 4 years ago
The Bear IS a wild animal,but it does seem that the Woman is taking very good care of her. The article states that he was born in capetivdiy and couldn't survive without humans. And that he is more well fed than before.
Sark Aztik 4 years ago
If anything she seems to be taking proper care of it, but she should really be trying to find a sanctuary for him to be moved to so he can be rehabilitated and learn to live like a bear. Not really about her safety but moreso the bear's. If she dies or perhaps mauled by the thing, the bear is going to likely just be killed or left to die because it has no experience in the wild.
Load More Replies... monstakiwi 4 years ago
Why do these pics look more like engagement shots than anything else....?
Deon Bothma 2 years ago
Most of you with your negative views are all American a**e wipes, go sniff Joe Biden, maybe you will all feel wet
Renee Potter 4 years ago
Have any of you spent time with the Russian woman and the bear? Assumptions denotes ignorance.
Anya Garza 4 years ago
It takes A LOT to care for ANY pet for them to show this much affection toward you, let anole a bear. This relationship is NOT one-sided, I don’t care for all these comments! Veronica has dedicated a good portion of her life to take care of this animal, and it’s ongoing … I thinks it’s very admirable!
John Bartholomew 4 years ago
Next time in "Bear Monthly"::When food invites you into their home.
Stephanie Keith 4 years ago
The amount of ignorance in these comments. It's gotten to a point where I lie to myself and say people cannot be this stupid. Just judging and saying stuff that makes no sense. These people truly are the worst.
Trish Smith 4 years ago
I think the photos, and Archie, are beautiful!! I'm not going to get into the "correctness" of it all.
Samantha PandaNotBored 4 years ago
I need to know more. What a fabulous ending . I hope he lives a long and happy ever after life , and not be used for instants etc
Viviane 4 years ago (edited)
You could get a dog that looks like a bear. It's a lot of trouble to own a wild animal: you might have to move to a place where it's allowed, research any health problems, then you'd have to get enough room and stimulation for it, food, a vet that is specialized in that species, will the animal outlive you, who can take care of it if you can't, etc. Another issue: would you be supporting unethical practices? For example, baby monkeys are taken from their captive mothers too young. If wild, the mothers and other adults are killed when they defend the baby. Zoos won't take many animals, especially primates, because those raised by human don't get along with captive primates that live in groups. Sanctuaries often have waiting lists.
Load More Replies... Marlowe Fitzpatrik 4 years ago
Not Russophobe at all. Just phobic of people doing dumb, dangerous stuff that endangers them and the animals they 'provide for' for photoshoots. There's a lot of amazing Russian people that should be featured here. But we only get to see pretty women with dangerous-but-fluffy animals.
Load More Replies... Aliquid A 4 years ago
The bear was a circus bear, then it was rescued, and now it is a circus bear again... the audience just happens to be online now.
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