July 21, 2021

Let Sleeping Bears Lie


Let Sleeping Bears Lie
Simply put: don't poke the bear.  Photo by Daniele Levis Pelusi via Unsplash

Russian zoos and bears go hand-in-paw, but they don't make for particularly interesting exhibit pieces during their lazy winter months. It is for this reason that the Novosibirsk Zoo is planning on creating exhibits that will allow zoo visitors to observe how a bear takes its long winter nap.

The design itself is the first like this in the country and is incredibly diverse. It will have fifteen separate dens made for the unique needs of each individual bear species.

The dens will have glass windows that visitors may peek (quietly) through to see the slumbering giants. Zookeepers will of course encourage the public to keep their voices down as best they can, but they also aren't convinced that this will work entirely. But they believe that if the bears do wake up from their hibernation, it could still prove beneficial for scientific studies.

The constriction of these dens won't be complete until at least 2022, so hopefully, the teddy bears will have some time to stock up on some z's (and possibly buy some earplugs?) before then. 

Let's just hope they don't visit the country clubs while they are at it. 

You Might Also Like

Can't Bear to Watch
  • March 01, 2021

Can't Bear to Watch

A nurse injects a performer in a bear costume with Russia’s Gam- COVID-Vac vaccine (under the brand name of Sputnik V) at a temporary COVID-19 vaccination site in Moscow’s Shchyolkovsky shopping centre.
A Furry Fugitive
  • June 14, 2021

A Furry Fugitive

In America, people go to country clubs to escape from the drudgery they bear. In Russia, bears escape from country clubs.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka
November 01, 2012

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955