Grizzly Bear Cubs and Me
Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan heads to Russia to become ‘mum’ to six orphaned grizzly bear cubs…
Orphaned animals are guaranteed to melt our hearts, and this inspiring new two-parter from wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan isn’t short on the ‘cute’ factor!
Gordon is spending nine months in snowy Russia with the Pazhetnov family, who have devoted their lives to rescuing grizzly bear cubs who’ve been orphaned due to logging or hunting.
He must assume the role of ‘surrogate mum’ to fiveweek-old male cubs Slava, Pasha, Tolya, Tyoma, Zhenya and Zhora, and prepare them to return to the wild.
‘Abandoned bear cubs are normally euthanised or kept in captivity for the rest of their lives,’ explains Gordon. ‘The thought of putting down these tiny cubs is horrible.’
Gordon is put on the night shift first, where he must bottle-feed the cubs every two hours. ‘It was a wrestling match and you’d end up covered in sickly, sweetsmelling milk!’ he laughs.
Simulation
To recreate life in the wild, Gordon builds a climbing frame and encourages the cubs to feed independently.
But he must break all contact when they’re taken to a special enclosure that prepares them for life alone.
Finally, as the bear cubs become almost fully grown,
Gordon drives them deep into the forests, ready for the big release.
‘I thought I’d be emotional, but I was just so happy to see them have a chance to become wild bears,’ says Gordon. ‘It’s incredible to know that they’re all out there somewhere in the wilds of Russia!’