Vladimir Putin, the Animal Lover

Vladimir Putin has gained a reputation as an animal lover during his years as Russian president and prime minister. Putin has many pets and boasts a long list of photo-ops with wild animals. In his latest stunt, he steered a specially outfitted motorized hang glider with a flock of migrating Siberian white cranes who took him for their leader.

Koni, a female black Labrador Retriever, became part of Putin’s family on New Year's Eve of 2001. Koni, who was given to Putin by former Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu, is often seen at the president's side.

In 2010, Bulgarian Premier Boyko Borisov gave Putin a Karakachan shepherd puppy after sealing a gas deal in Sofia. The dog was named Buffy.

The Golden Retriever, Aldo, belongs to Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Dogs are not the Russian leader’s only pets. In 2005, he was given a pony named Vadik during a horse-racing competition in Tatarstan.

Putin has communed with wild animals several times. In August 2008, Putin shot a five-year-old female tiger with a tranquilizer gun in Russia’s Far East, putting a satellite-tracking collar on the animal.

Two months later, Putin was presented with a two-month old tiger cub for his 56th birthday.

In April 2010, Putin put a satellite collar on a polar bear during a trip to Russia’s Arctic North.

In May 2010, Putin released two female leopards into a wildlife sanctuary in Sochi, the venue of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Putin later supported the leopard as one of the three mascots of the Games. "The leopard is strong, powerful, fast and beautiful. The leopard species was killed off here in the Caucasus, but now it is reviving," Putin said

In June 2010, Putin visited Losiny Ostrov (Elk Island) National Park in Moscow and fed elk calves.

The Russian president also likes chickens…

…calves…

…deer…

...octopi...

…white whales…

… and horses.

Putin is steady in the saddle.

He’s also a fan of fishing.