MOSCOW, November 27 (RIA Novosti) - Two Siberian bear cubs presented by the Russian president and his wife to the Swiss capital in September have settled in at Bern zoo, the Swiss ATS agency reported on Friday.
The orphaned bears, caught in the taiga by hunters in spring, were presented by Dmitry and Svetlana Medvedev during their state visit to Switzerland in late September. The cubs were named Misha and Masha.
The bears were kept under quarantine for two months before settling in at Bern zoo.
The gift preceded the opening of Bern's newly enlarged Bear Pit, for centuries one of the city's main tourist attractions. It stretches down to the river and is designed to give the animals more space and a more natural environment than previously.
Bears have been kept in Bern at the city's expense since 1513. The city's name comes from the German word for bear, and the animal is featured on the local flag and coat of arms.
Medvedev's surname comes from the Russian word 'medved' meaning bear. The animal is a Russian national symbol, and features on the ruling party's flag.
