"According to the RIA-Novosti news agency, police picked up the female bear after reports she had been cajoling food from drivers parked at a roadside cafe.

'Capturing the bear didn't require much effort,' a local police commander told the news agency, adding that the bear had obviously lived with humans for a long time.

She appeared to have fled from her owner or had been abandoned like a 'useless toy', the officer said.

Despite her apparent familiarity with humans and good behaviour, the bear has been put behind bars, although the officer stressed it would be a temporary detention.

'We are feeding her honey and cake,' he said."