This seemingly ordinary couple from Russia have an extraordinary story – or pet rather.
The couple have a fur baby of a different kind. Adopted as a 3-month old cub, Stepan was rescued after being found close to death and abandoned in a forest.
Svetlana and Yuri Panteleenko, from Moscow, Russia, decided to give the 7ft bear a home and 23 years later, the bear has cemented his place within the family.
“He absolutely loves people and is a really sociable bear – despite what people might think, he is not aggressive at all,” said Mrs Panteleenko. “We have never been bitten by Stepan.”
The bear apparently eats 25kg of fish, vegetables and eggs every day and loves playing with his parents, watching tv and cuddling on the couch.
