Bears: Russia's Favorite Animal

Alexander Kharatokin plays with a 9-month-old brown bear named Masha on the banks of the Yenisei River outside Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, September 19, 2014.



Kharatokin, a homeless man and a watchman of a mooring, lives in a wooden hovel near the river. Under the permission of his employer, Kharatokin adopted the orphan bear that was found this spring.



He plans to continue living with the bear, whom will be moved to a new larger enclosure after it is constructed.



See our previous Photo Gallery:

Moscow in Miniature

Alexander Kharatokin walks with a 9-month-old brown bear named Masha after it bathed in the Yenisei River outside Krasnoyarsk, Siberia.

A 9-month-old brown bear named Masha climbs onto its enclosure near the dwelling of Alexander Kharatokin (R) outside Krasnoyarsk, Siberia.

Alexander Kharatokin shaves near a 9-month-old brown bear named Masha on the bank of the Yenisei River outside Krasnoyarsk, Siberia.

Alexander Kharatokin enchains a 9-month-old brown bear named Masha near their dwelling outside Krasnoyarsk, Siberia.

A 9-month-old brown bear named Masha sits enchained near the dwelling of Alexander Kharatokin outside Krasnoyarsk, Siberia.