Bears beg for food at Russian zoo

Heartbreaking vision has been emerging on social media of bears begging for food at a Russian zoo.

Videos captured at Kaliningrad Zoo in recent months, show bears desperately trying to catch and eat apples and other food items thrown at them by amused visitors.

The bears have often been captured standing up on their hind legs, on the very edge of a platform in their bare concrete and stone enclosure.

At times they wave their arms around and growl, as if performing for their next treat.

In spite of the bear's apparent desperation, there is no proof it is starving or that this zoo neglecting it.

Back in 2001, a tear-jerking photograph was taken of a bear at the very same zoo.

The image which was snapped by Peter Marlow, shows a bear sitting alone at the bottom of a concrete pit, while children gawked down at him.

The videos and images are a stark reminder of the desolation and deprivation animals can suffer at zoos, just to cater to human entertainment.

Last year a shark at the zoo reportedly had a nervous breakdown after getting excessive attention from visitors.

The shark became extremely distressed by visitors who were persistently tapping on the glass to get its attention, IBT reported.