This is the moment a Russian had his hand ripped off by a caged bear - after ignoring his friends’ warnings and reaching in to stroke the animal.

Footage taken in Murmanskaya Oblast, in the country's far north west shows the man screaming out in pain as the bear clamps its teeth around his arm.

Seconds earlier his friends had shouted 'you f***ing idiot, don't do it!' as he approached the giant animal.

Video captured the moment a Russian had his hand ripped off by a caged bear after reaching through bars to pet the animal

Footage taken in Murmanskaya Oblast, in the country's far north west shows the man screaming out in pain as the bear clamps its teeth around his arm

The brown bear took hold of his arm and stood up on its back legs as it yanked the man from side to side with its jaws.

Video posted on Live Leak starts by showing the bear standing still in its cage before a man in a black jacket and jeans approaches while people swear in the back ground.

The man cautiously puts his right arm through the bars as if attempting to stroke or pat the creature.

The man is believed to have lost his forearm up to his elbow in the attack - but did not die despite suffering from horrific injuries

The bear strikes, grabbing hold of the man and stands up as the victim struggles desperately to free himself

Seconds earlier his friends had shouted 'you f***ing idiot, don't do it!' as he approached the giant animal

Moments later the bear strikes, grabbing hold of the man and stands up as the victim struggles desperately to free himself.

Incredibly, the cameraman appears to carry on filming before suddenly dropping the device and running over to help amid screams of panic.

In the confusion, the camera picks us flashes of the animal's brown fur as it thrashes around in the cage before the terrified men turn and run.