The strange meeting of man and beast seems to suit both sides. Picture: Alexey Trikachev

The footage is said to be from remote Kolyma, in the extreme east of Russia, notorious for the prison camps of the Stalin era. A ravenous bear appears at the window to claim a snack of biscuits.

The strange meeting of man and beast seems to suit both sides.

The animal is hungry and the men are entertained chatting to the wild bear as if it was a pet, and shaking its paw in exchange for more cookies.

A ravenous bear appears at the window to claim a snack of biscuits. Pictures here and below: Alexey Trikachev

At one point the dialogue on the video went like this:

'Don't rush, eat carefully'.

'There you go, good boy.'

'Mishanya, you're my Mishanya' - this being a 'pet' name for bears in Russia.

'Someone wants to play, I think '

'Come one, show me a bear noise' [a man is heard making bear-like sounds and encourages the bear to copy]

'Give me high-five.' [man and bear are 'shaking' hands]

'Careful, don't break the window.'