Russian Bear
The Russian Bear (Russian: Русский медведь, romanized: Russkiy medved') is a widespread symbol (generally of a Eurasian brown bear) for Russia, used in cartoons, articles, and dramatic plays since as early as the 16th century, and relating alike to the Russian Empire, the Russian Provisional Government and Russian Republic, the Soviet Union, and the present-day Russian Federation. The uses of the bear are mixed.