Birds that Vladimir Putin tried to save have 'almost disappeared' due to illegal shooting.
The Russian president took part in the 'Flight of Hope', giving a flying lesson to young white cranes ahead of their epic 5,000 km migration.
One-year-old bird has become a minor celebrity and attracts hundreds of visitors a week and even has its own Facebook page.
In case of any doubts, we mean the twitching variety, which are now back to Siberia, resting before their next extraordinary journey.
Russian president discovers 'proof' that fabled creature exists while on short vacation in Kemerovo region.
Reindeer herders find more craters in the far north in a deepening puzzle for scientists.