Russian President Vladimir Putin is well-known for his of adventures. He is also known as a passionate animal lover. On September 5, he showed the whole world how much he loves animals. Mr. Putin flew in a hang glider to help endangered cranes begin their migration!

Wearing white overalls and big black goggles, the Russian president flew with the Siberian white cranes in a motorized hang glider in northern Siberia.
The endangered cranes migrate to Iran and India to spend winter in warmer places. Sadly, the birds have almost been driven to extinction by hunters targeting them along their migration routes through central Asia.

Many of the birds didn’t know how to begin their migration to their wintering grounds. That was why Mr. Putin decided to help them find their way. The 60-year-old Russian leader has spent about a year and a half preparing for the trip with the cranes. He also received 17 hours of training on the motorized hang glider.

“It was harder to control than a jet fighter,” he said after finishing his mission successfully. After his flight in Siberia, Mr. Putin donated the hang glider. He had bought the hang glider with his own money to fly with the birds.

The endangered cranes will remain under the supervision of the presidential administration. As an animal and nature lover, Mr. Putin will keep working hard to protect other endangered animals, too. For example, he will do his best to protect polar bears, tigers, leopards, and whales in Russia. Animals in Russia are lucky to have such a great leader who protects them!