Wild bears in Russia – in pictures

Gorshkov got as close to the animals as possible. He said: 'I have got as close to the bears in the wild as you could in the zoo. It is only now, looking back I realise how dangerous it was. Some bears saw me as prey – it was scary' Photograph: Sergey Gorshkov/solentnews.co.uk The United Nations Development Programme is funding community-level projects aimed at cutting the unprecedented levels of poaching that threaten the fragile habitat of Russia’s far-east Kamchatka peninsula Photograph: Sergey Gorshkov/solentnews.co.uk A bear charges into the lake as the salmon leap, trying to escape his claws Photograph: Sergey Gorshkov/solentnews.co.uk The photographer spent hours in the icy water. He said: 'I knew that nobody had taken a picture of a bear under water and I had a clear idea in my mind of what I wanted' Photograph: Sergey Gorshkov/solentnews.co.uk A young bear has his nose down, but this salmon makes a flying leap to freedom Photograph: Sergey Gorshkov/solentnews.co.uk A bear shakes himself after a swim Photograph: Sergey Gorshkov/solentnews.co.uk A bear stands on its hind legs and holds up one of its huge paws Photograph: Sergey Gorshkov/solentnews.co.uk