While the double-headed eagle graces Russia’s official coat of arms, the bear holds an unofficial status as the country’s mascot, often considered even more popular and widely associated. In a world where cats and dogs typically take the spotlight as preferred pets, Russians stand out by having a penchant for bears as companions. Today’s story revolves around one such unique bond.
Veronica Dichka, a resident of Novosibirsk, proudly introduces Archie as her steadfast companion. Originally rescued from a circus by Maya Kirsanova when he was just a cub, Archie lived in a safari park with several other bears until the facility had to close due to the pandemic. Faced with the challenges of maintaining the shelter, Veronica, displaying remarkable courage, stepped in and adopted Archie. It’s noteworthy that Veronica had previously collaborated with Archie on a few photoshoots, but at that time, their connection was merely professional. Now, they are inseparable, and the images below vividly capture the special bond they share.
For more information, you can visit Veronica and Archie’s profiles on Instagram and TikTok.
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Veronica adopted Archie later on, as the bear didn’t have a reliable shelter after the local zoo was closed due to the pandemic
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Archie was born in captivity, and couldn’t survive without the help of humans
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The unlikely couple are from Novosibirsk, Russia, and they have a jovial relationship
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Archie is very smart, knows a lot of tricks and is very disciplined
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Veronica is a model, a professional dancer, and a passionate fishing enthusiast
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Archie recently even joined Veronica on a fishing trip
Archie is very well fed as opposed to before. He doesn’t even need to hibernate
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Veronica knows the true meaning of a bear hug
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They spend every day together
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Archie sees Veronica as a member of his family. They share food, Archie sleeps in her arms, and hides behind her when afraid
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Archie and Veronica are happy to have each other
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