This bear is travelling in style, being driven around a Russian city by its human companion.
Toptyzhka, a Himalayan bear, rides shotgun as Veronika Dichka, 24, drives it around the Siberian city of Novosibirsk as well as out on trips to forests and fields, where the bear can climb trees and roam free.
Dichka says she never uses a cage when travelling with Toptyzhka, who sits in the passenger’s seat as she drives.
‘While travelling in the car, Toptyzhka behaves quite calmly, although he sometimes loves to play with the seat belt by pulling it out,’ she said.
‘He is an inquisitive bear and the main thing he was interested in was the steering wheel. He was also having a great time turning on and off the light with his nose,’ Dichka said, adding that Toptyzkha ‘always has a positive attitude towards car trips because of his curious nature.’
The bear’s owner, Maya Kirsanova, said she needed help and Dichka said she has spent almost every day with the massive beast ever since.
Dichka herself owns a bear, which she rescued the bear from a safari park in 2019.
‘I am often asked if I am afraid of bears, but I would say, on the contrary, I feel safe with Toptyzhka,’ she said.
A large bear is travelling in style, being driven around the Russian city of Novosibirsk by its human companion
Toptyzhka, a Himalayan bear, rides shotgun as Veronika Dichka (pictured), 24, drives it around the Siberian city of Novosibirsk
‘He is an inquisitive bear and the main thing he was interested in was the steering wheel,’ Dichka said of her travel buddy
The bear’s owner, Maya Kirsanova, said she needed help and Dichka said she has spent almost every day with the massive beast ever since
‘I am often asked if I am afraid of bears, but I would say, on the contrary, I feel safe with Toptyzhka,’ Dichka said
While cruising around, Toptyzhka enjoys looking out the window, playing with his seatbelt and turning the car’s lights off and on with his nose
Dichka says Toptyzkha ‘always has a positive attitude towards car trips because of his curious nature’