A New Year's miracle for a young resident of Chukotka: Plenipotentiary Representative Yuri Trutnev helped fulfill his dream of meeting a capybara

Eleven-year-old Bogdan Shilko's dream came true thanks to the nationwide "Yolka zhelaniy" (Wish Tree) campaign. His unusual wish—to hug, feed, and drink tea with a friendly capybara—was granted by Yuri Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District. He was the one who removed the balloon bearing the boy's cherished request.

Bogdan's fascination with these, the world's largest rodents, has lasted for several years. He collects their figurines, watches educational videos, and in the summer of 2025, he saw capybaras at the Moscow Zoo, but dreamed of a personal, tactile encounter. In late December 2025, Yuri Trutnev held a teleconference during which he personally spoke with Bogdan and his mother, Ekaterina Rodionova, and confirmed that the trip to Moscow would take place.

"The teacher invited me to participate in the 'Wish Tree'. I wrote it down, and the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy Yuri Petrovich Trutnev himself took down the balloon with the wish," Bogdan said.

In the last days of January 2026, the dream became a reality. The schoolboy flew to the capital and visited a specialized zoo cafe. There, he was finally able to interact closely with the amazing animal, feed it, take memorable photos, and, of course, give it a big hug. Bogdan's mother, Ekaterina Alexandrovna, was overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude.

Latest news

© Russian Far East and Arctic Development Corporation, 2026
We use cookies on this site to improve performance.
By continuing to use the site, you consent to the use of cookies.