In the remote wilderness of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, an extraordinary and scientifically puzzling friendship has blossomed between three young female bears, challenging long-held understandings of these typically solitary animals. The unique bond was observed in the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, a pristine environment known for its dense bear population.
Liana Varavskaya, a seasoned nature inspector at the reserve, documented the unusual alliance, expressing her astonishment after a decade of field observation. “In all my 10 years of observing bears, I have never seen young females from different families stick together like this,” she reported. “These three don’t just stay together, they even share fish with each other without any scandal, which is unheard of.”
The trio, affectionately named Glasha, Kuzya, and Klava, have formed what Varavskaya playfully calls a “gang.” They are frequently seen playing together along the shore, cooperating in fishing expeditions, and even jointly attempting to dismantle a wooden pier at a ranger station. Their behavior starkly contrasts with the established science of brown bears, which are known to be solitary creatures outside of mating season or a mother’s care for her cubs.
“Most people wouldn’t find this strange, because everyone has friends. Everyone, that is, except bears,” Varavskaya explained, highlighting the scientific anomaly of their behavior. “A bear is a solitary animal, forming only temporary mating pairs or family units of a mother and cubs.”
According to the inspector, the likely ringleader of the group is Glasha, who recently separated from her mother. Varavskaya speculates that a rare combination of factors has allowed this unprecedented friendship to flourish. “Apparently, the abundance of food, the absence of danger, and the sociable nature of our Glasha are all contributing factors,” she concluded, suggesting that the secure and plentiful environment of the reserve has created the perfect conditions for this remarkable ursine bond.