Badgers usually remain fast asleep until the end of February but, Siberia's mild winter caused a shorter hibernation period. On Monday, the temperature rose to 2 degrees Celsius. It was minus 24 C on the same day last year.

Cries to urgently call state of emergency in Irkutsk region as it chokes in smoke.

Vital for making its waters so 'pure', one theory is that rising underwater methane leaks are killing off the sponge, but is there a silver lining?