Escape from the Russian Wilderness: A Couple's Harrowing Survival Tale

Siberian couple Anton and Nina Bogdanov captured headlines this week after they were forced to seek refuge in a tree deep in the Kamchatka wilderness to escape a predatory bear. This region is known for its dense population of over 23,000 brown bears, some of the most deadly predators in the area, responsible for at least four human fatalities last year.

In an interview with the local media, the couple shared that they spent ten days and nights stationed in the tree, without food or water, as the dangerous bear prowled at the base below them.

"We embarked on a trip to the thermal springs," the couple recounted. "We planned to stay one night and return the next day, but our car got stuck in a massive mud puddle, leaving Anton unable to call for help," Nina explained.

Facing no other options, they spent the night in their car. "The following day, we started walking toward the tourist center in Anya, hoping to find help. Before leaving, we wrote on the car's windshield, 'We left towards the base, two people,'" they continued.

The pair managed to walk halfway before spotting a massive and menacing bear trailing behind them. "We didn’t notice him right away; he was remarkably silent. My husband spotted him first. At first, we tried to scare him off, and he did retreat briefly. But then he returned and started chasing us," Nina shared, emphasizing that they had no choice but to run. "We ran with all our strength, reaching a river, and climbed a tree while the bear continued its pursuit. The bear almost reached my husband until I distracted it by throwing my water bottle, giving Anton a chance to climb to safety."

Undeterred, the bear was relentless. It attempted to climb the tree, succeeding up to a certain height, prompting the couple to throw down their backpacks filled with food in an attempt to distract it. "The bear stayed close for two days, consuming all our food," they recounted.

Thanks to the thick forest canopy, Anton and Nina managed to survive, transitioning from tree to tree for six days until finally making their way back to their stranded vehicle. "We covered roughly 500 meters a day, advancing bit by bit. When I slept on the branches, Anton kept watch, and vice versa," Nina said.

On the tenth night in the trees, the bear eventually left. "It went to search for other prey, allowing us to escape and reach the car," they described.

Frightened, hungry, and thirsty, they sought refuge in their vehicle for several hours until they heard the approach of other cars. "I started crying with joy when I saw other people approaching," Nina recalled.

One of the rescuers noted that they found the couple completely exhausted and terrified. They were taken to the hospital and later released to return home.

The couple's jeep:

The note the couple wrote on the jeep before setting out for help:

The couple at the time of rescue: