Woman rescues brown bear when safari park shuts down – two years later, they are taking fishing trips together

Sometimes, the most unexpected friendships turn out to be the most remarkable. While stories of animals bonding with humans aren’t new, few are as unusual, or as heartwarming, as this one. In what many are calling the most "Russian thing" ever to happen, a woman in Siberia, Novosibirsk, has become best friends with a brown bear. Veronika Dichka took Archie, the bear, into her care after the safari park where he had been living shut down, as reported by Penn Live. Rather than being just a caretaker, Veronika has become his closest companion. Over the past two years, the two have grown inseparable, sharing a bond that goes far beyond what most would think possible between a human and a wild animal. They even take fishing trips together, rowing out onto quiet lakes like old friends enjoying a day off.

“We rescued him from the safari park but can’t release him into the wild as he has lived in captivity his whole life,” Veronika shares with the Daily Mail. Without the instincts needed to survive in Siberia’s harsh environment, Archie depends on Veronika not just for food and shelter, but for emotional comfort as well. According to her, “He sees me as a member of his family, we share food, he sleeps in my arms when afraid, and hides behind me.” It’s clear that their relationship is built on deep mutual trust.

Life with Archie is far from ordinary. He now spends every day with Veronika, often joining her on small adventures and outings. One of his favorite activities is being out on the water. “Archie spends every day with us and is madly in love with water,” Veronika says. “He loves it very much when I take him to new places, so this shooting was a pleasure for him!” Their outings have also been captured in a series of charming photos, showing a bear at ease, not in a cage, but in a boat, fishing rod nearby, basking in the calm of nature with his best friend. 

While some might see this as an unusual or even risky arrangement, Veronika sees it as a commitment she was willing to make when she took Archie in. However, the beautiful bond between the two is indeed a unique one, especially when a ferocious predator like a brown bear is involved. According to the Nordic Society Oikos, from 1932 to 2017, Russia, home to nearly half of the world’s brown bears, recorded 338 cases of people being injured or killed by these animals. Most attacks (about 75%) involved single bears and happened during the day, especially in summer and autumn. During the Soviet era, hunters and outdoor workers were most at risk. After 1991, more incidents involved hikers, foragers, and people near human settlements. Between 1991 and 2017, most cases were reported in Siberia (109) and the Pacific Coast (111), compared to 44 in European Russia. In nearly 40% of cases with known causes, attacks happened when bears were provoked or surprised, while 18% showed signs of predatory behavior.