

Russia’s bears have found themselves suffering from a jet fuel addiction.

The containers were left in the Kronotsky Nature Reserve and the nearby creatures picked on their strong smell of kerosene and gasoline. These bears, weighing up to 1,200 pounds, love the smell of jet fuel so much that they have begun inhaling the fumes before digging shallow holes for themselves where they pass out.

The fuel is used to power generators and helicopters used by nature reserve workers. Photographer Igor Shpilenok spent months with these particular gang of bears and says they like getting high so much, they stalk helicopters and attempt to suck up excess fuel that leaks onto the soil.



Images: Igor Shpllenok/Barcroft Media