A polar bear with a can of condensed milk stuck in its mouth has been rescued by Russian vets.
The distressed bear was spotted with the can caught between its jaws in the country's northernmost settlement of Dikson, in the Krasnoyarsk region.
A group of veterinarians, sent from Moscow by the Russian Natural Resources watchdog, managed to tranquillise the bear and remove the can.
Moscow Zoo vet Mikhail Alshinetsky said the can had damaged the animal's tongue.
"It's a female, about two years old, skinny, slightly dehydrated," Mr Alshinetsky said.
"It will most likely recover because the underlying muscles are not affected. The skin on the surface is damaged.
"She will lie still long enough that we'll be able to bring her to the place of release. Then we'll give her an antidote and everything will be fine."
The bear will remain under observation for several days before being taken to its natural habitat with a supply of fish.
ABC/AP
