ROSTOV-ON-DON, February 6 (RIA Novosti) - A thaw in southern Russia has brought the country's largest captive bear out of hibernation, a Rostov zoo official said on Wednesday.
"Earlier this week, the Kamchatka brown bear, Elizar, and the central Russian brown bear, Andrei, came out of hibernation," Alexander Lipkovich said. "They are doing well, but are a bit sleepy."
Premature awakening poses no threat to the animals' health, as bears can 'drop off' again if temperatures plummet.
He added that 300-kg (660-pound) Elizar, who was transferred to the Rostov Zoo from the Far Eastern region of Kamchatka, had not hibernated at all in several warm winters as he had been confused by unusually high temperatures.
Six of the Rostov zoo's eight bears usually hibernate in winter. Its two polar bears stay awake.
