Stepan the Bear and his unusual life in a Russian family. Big, plush, yours: the story of the bear Stepan, who lives in a Russian family Family with the bear Stepan

From the steam side Svetlana and Yuri Panteleenko They look like an ordinary Russian family, except for one fact - a huge 135-kilogram bear lives with them. The couple adopted into the family bear Styopa, when he was only 3 months old, and since then he has lived with them and even sometimes helps with the housework.

It is difficult to find a more stereotypical Russian family than Svetlana and Yuriy Panteleenko, because they live in a log house surrounded by birch trees and drink tea with a real bear.

Now Styopa is already 23 years old, he weighs 135 kg, and when he stands on his hind legs, his height is 213 cm. The bear is so domesticated that in the evenings he snuggles up to them while sitting on the couch while watching TV. The family claims that Styopa helps them with the housework, well, at least he knows how to water the beds in the summer.

But A big bear, this is also a big responsibility... in the sense of hunger. Every day Styopa eats 25 kg of fish, eggs, and vegetables. And of course, there’s no way without dessert. Styopa loves to eat condensed milk in cans.

If you want, you can even play ball with him. It costs Yuri nothing to throw Styopa to the ground and, scratching his belly, begin to fight him, without being afraid that the animal will bite off his head. True friend, which better than any security system will protect the house.

The main thing is that the robbers take the inscription “Beware of the angry bear” seriously, otherwise their stupid smile will be wiped off their faces in the blink of an eye if they decide to break into the house.

Stepan the bear has his own website. It says “Having become second parents for him, Yura and Sveta, raised Stepushka, making him a real circus artist and a movie star. Tapping is an exception to the rule. There are no such bears in nature. He is smart, kind and fabulously handsome. You can approach him and not only pet him, but also sit on his massive back and hold his powerful paw.”

Mishka Stepan is also known for his film roles: he starred in the films “Tsar”, “The Edge”, “Voronin” and many others. His biography includes about a dozen works. In addition, the bear regularly takes part in Christmas trees for almost two decades now. On this moment Styopa the bear finished filming the TV movie “Yolki - 4”, playing a cameo role there.

Last year, a photo shoot with Stepan the bear, mother and little daughter caused a real shock on foreign websites. Photographer Olga Barantseva captured the trembling moments. Mom and daughter on a picnic: here they are hugging the animal as if it were an ordinary pet.

A girl sits astride a bear. The predator receives treats, and, apparently, he is satisfied. But many foreign readers were outraged, saying how could one risk the life of a child by allowing him to be close to such a huge beast?

Olga Barantseva did not expect that her work would become famous throughout the world. He says that “there are a lot of such filming with animals.” Moreover, Stepan repeatedly posed for other photographers.

“Styopa is a great actor, he really is tame. How can you be afraid of him if he’s so cute,” admit the models who participated in Olga’s photo projects.

It’s unlikely that anyone would find the idea of ​​sitting at a table with a brown bear weighing 136 kg appetizing. But there is a family in Russia who does this every day, and the bear has become part of them Everyday life. At first glance, Svetlana and Yuri Panteleenko look like an ordinary family- except for one detail: their 23-year-old bear Stepan.

The forest animal, more than two meters tall, is so tame that the family often sits down to watch TV in the evenings with it.

Stepan even helps around the house, or at least in the garden: he knows how to water the plants.

Stepan the bear eats a lot, but most of all he likes to enjoy a jar of condensed milk. He also eats 25 kg of fish, vegetables and eggs, so it cannot be said that cooking dinner for the Panteleenko family is easier than steamed turnips.

Luckily for Stepan, he loves to play ball, so he stays in shape despite his heavy diet.

Svetlana and Yuri took Stepan in when he was only three months old. According to married couple, due to the fact that they spent so much time with the bear, he has a very gentle disposition and even cuddles up to them, jumping on the sofa.

Svetlana says: “Stepan loves most to cuddle on the sofa in the evenings while we watch TV.”

“When we got him, he was only three months old. He was found by hunters in the forest where he lost his mother. He was in very bad condition. He adores people and loves to socialize, and despite what people may think, he is not aggressive at all. Stepan never bit us."

Some people keep dogs at home, some cats and rodents, some like silent fish or hissing cockroaches, but all this is difficult to compare with the pet of Yuri and Svetlana Panteleenko. A real brown bear weighing more than 300 kg lives in their home. Twenty-year-old bear Stepan is only menacing in appearance, but in reality he is the kindest creature who has never offended anyone.

Little Stepan came to his new “parents” when he was still a very tiny three-month-old bear cub. It was sold at the market by hunters who claimed that the baby simply fell behind its mother and got lost. The Panteleenko family recalls that Stepan was then simply in a terrible state, all wounded and scared.

Yuri and Svetlana are not just compassionate passers-by who took pity on the bear cub, they both work as trainers, and therefore know how to treat animals. Only thanks to long and patient care for the baby, it was possible to melt his heart, help Stepushka, as he is sometimes called now, to recover and learn many circus tricks.

The fact that Stepan is not aggressive (in his entire life he has never bitten or attacked anyone), but, on the contrary, is friendly and very careful in communicating with people is an exception to the rule. It is very difficult to tame a bear, and most often these animals are simply not able to get along with people, at least not as a pet. That is why Stepan is now in great demand both for photo shoots and for various filming of films, programs and TV series. Moreover, Stepan regularly attends New Year's parties - children, of course, can be scared to see such a huge beast next to them (the bear's height is 2 meters 20 cm), but Stepan manages to charm the children.

Incredible facts

Trainers Svetlana and Yuri Panteleenko seem like an ordinary family until they introduce their 23 year old adopted son - brown bear Stepan.

They are used to doing everything together, from playing in the yard to watching TV on the couch.

Stepan was only 3 months old when the Panteleenko family took him into their family. The bear was found in a terrible state by hunters after he lost his mother.

Since then, the clubfoot and the Panteleenko family have lived together for 23 years.

Russian bear Stepan

Since Stepan was domesticated from young age, he has a very gentle temperament. At any opportunity he loves to hug his parents, and in the evenings he likes to snuggle up with them on the sofa.

"He loves people and is very sociable– despite what people may think, he is not aggressive at all. Stepan never bit us,” said Svetlana.

The only thing Svetlana and Yuri can complain about is Stepan's good appetite. Stepan's height is 2.20 meters and weight is 136 kg.

He eats 25 kg of fish per day, as well as plenty of eggs and vegetables, but his favorite treat is a can of condensed milk. Stepan was never given raw meat, perhaps so as not to awaken his predatory instinct.

Bear Stepan and his family

Yuri and Svetlana taught Stepan a number of tricks, and they already performed in various performances, mainly for children. The bear also participated in several professional photo shoots with girls, models and children, and they all noted his good nature.

Stepan could be seen in several Russian films, including “The Edge” by Alexei Uchitel and “Tsar” by Pavel Lungin.

Yuri Panteleenko himself said that Stepan is one of the few animals completely devoid of aggression.

He always has a happy and playful mood and has never exhibited aggressive behavior.