Protect Endangered Bears
The bear is a symbol of strength and courage, but today it needs our help.
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About 20 million years ago, the first documented bear appeared on Earth.
When we say the word "bear", many of us think of a small teddy bear, which we probably all had in our childhood, and we also all loved Winnie-the-Pooh. But the bear is more than that - it is a fascinating animal that is irreplaceable in its biotopes.
Bear cub sitting on mama bear while leaning against a redwood tree. El Dorado County, CA, USA. Source: Unsplash
What should we know about the bear? Bears are large omnivorous mammals of the Ursidae family. Their ancestors can be found among small carnivorous mammals 40 million years ago, but it was only about 20 million years ago that the first documented bear, Ursavus elmensis, roamed our planet.
Bears are characterized by a robust body, a large head with small eyes and round ears and a long snout, strong legs with long non-retractable claws and a short tail. They have bushy fur that can be brown, black or white in color and may have white or yellow marking on the chest. Perhaps surprisingly, the closest relatives of bears are pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, walruses...), canids (dogs, wolves, foxes...) and musteloids (red panda, otter, raccoon...).
Bear senses and abilities The bear is a top predator in its natural environment thanks to its well-developed senses. Scientists are still studying this amazing animal, but we can say with certainty that:
- sense of smell makes the bear a great predator and puts it at the top of the food chain. The sense of smell is 100x better than your dog's and 2100-3000x better than yours. The distance at which a bear can smell food is of course dependent on many variables, such as direction and speed of air flow, humidity and temperature. However, it is estimated that a black bear can smell food up to 20 miles away. Polar bears can smell their prey hidden up to 3 feet under snow.
- eyesight was considered more of the bear’s weakness for a long time, as the bear's eyes are very small compared to its body size. However, the latest findings show that bears see at least as well as humans and also have color vision. Compared to human vision, the bear's eye is even believed to be better in dim or low-light conditions. Moreover, Polar Bears have a protective membrane over their eyes that helps protect the eyes from ultraviolet light.
- hearing is not one of the bear’s strongest senses, but can still be relied on without any problems. In dense forests, where visibility is not always good, it surpasses the human hearing sense by about 2x and, unlike humans, has a larger frequency range. It is about 25 kHz, i.e. a little less than, for example, a dog’s (35 kHz). A bear's ears can also serve well as a mood barometer. If the bear's ears are forward, he is calm and curious, but if his ears are flattened or pointing backwards, then the bear is irritated and may attack.
- the sense of taste in bears is not fully documented, but we do know that bears prefer some foods to others. Carnivorous animals such as big cats do not have receptors for sweet taste, because they do not need it. Nevertheless, bears have this receptor and that is why they look for sweets, for example, in the form of honey.
- touch is also one of the little-studied bear senses. What we do know for sure is that a bear can handle objects with great skill, whether large rocks or small berries.
- the bear ranks among more intelligent animals. It has a large brain in proportion to the body, and in the animal kingdom its intelligence is comparable to the higher primates. The bear has a great sense of direction and a great long-term memory. Thanks to this, for example, he knows when and where to find ripe fruit that he ate somewhere five years before.
Food Bears are omnivores – that is, except for the purely carnivorous Polar Bear, which specializes in seals, and the almost vegetarian Giant Panda, which in turn eats almost exclusively bamboo shoots. In the wild, most of them enjoy fruit, berries or roots, ants or other insects, and of course meat, including carrion.
Hibernation The bear is not the only animal that hibernates. Actually, there are many such animals – rodents, some amphibians and even a few primates. But bear hibernation is a little different and can last from 75 - 120 days. A bear can slow its breathing and heart rate by about 75 % while maintaining a relatively high body temperature. During this time, bears do not excrete feces or urine, but a kind of recycling occurs due to the metabolism. The bear can also wake up earlier, for example during winter thaws, and then lie down again. Its hibernation is not as strictly tied to the length of the day as it is in other creatures. Of course, during this period, the bear is able to receive stimuli from its surroundings (mainly sound) and can easily wake up if necessary.
Did you know... in late summer and fall, Black Bears are in a state of hyperphagia – overeating to gain fat reserves for hibernation? During this time, a grizzly can eat up to 40 000 calories a day.
Predation and survival An adult bear is a strong animal that can take care of itself in most cases. Cubs are the most vulnerable. About 25-50 % of them do not live longer than 1 year. Even if they survive the first year, it does not mean that the risk is over. About 25 % of them die before the age of 2 years. If they survive this period, about another 20 % of females and almost 50 % of males die before reaching adulthood. Cubs have a high mortality rate due to lack of food, suffocation in case of a caved-in den, and of course as easy prey of other adult bears, and, in recent years, collisions with vehicles.
Although they are top predators, a bear can also be successfully hunted down. In addition to other adult bears already mentioned, they can be hunted down by:
- tigers,
- wolves,
- coyotes,
- cougars,
- lynxes,
- humans (of course).
But if a bear is lucky, survives its childhood and adolescence, does not die under the wheels of a car or is not shot just "for fun", a bear can live 25-30 years in the wild. In captivity and given proper care, a bear can live up to 50 years.
The Black Bears at Seney National Wildlife Refuge in Michigan are getting their fill of berries as they prepare for the winter. Source: Wikimedia
Why are bears important? Bears have a very positive effect on the habitats in which they live. They contribute to the fertilization of the landscape thanks to their droppings, which are rich in various nutrients, for example, from the salmon they eat. Of course, they also spread the seeds of plants and fruits that they like to eat. Scientists estimate that Brown and Black Bears can disperse more than 200 000 seeds per hour per square mile. In the Rocky Mountain National Park, they did an experiment and 1 200 seedlings grew from 1 bear's droppings.
The bear, as an apex predator, maintains the balance of the population of large animals, such as moose, reindeer and deer. Thanks to bears, they have to be constantly on the move and not stay in one place, where they could cause great damage to the vegetation. This also helps to reduce and heal the weak parts of the territory in which the bear moves. Bears are also heavily involved in the disposal of carcasses of dead animals.
Studying bears can aid human health. Scientists focus on the bear's ability to hibernate, specifically on why the bear still has strong bones after waking up from hibernation, when normally bones in mammals lose calcium from disuse and become weak. The answer could answer the question of treating osteoporosis or even kidney disease.
The bear also has immeasurable economic value. Thanks to its charisma, it is targeted by nature lovers and photographers. Seeing such an amazing animal in its natural habitat attracts tourists from all over the world and brings profit to locals even in remote areas.
Types of bears Evolution, extinction and, of course, human intervention have left 8 species of bears on our planet today. They are found practically throughout the northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere hosts only 1 species. Bears do not live in the rest of the world, i.e. in Australia, Antarctica or Africa – the last African Bear (Atlas Bear) became extinct in the 19th century.
Black Bear eating grass. Source: Unsplash
American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) Size: usually 1.3 - 1.9 meters (4.3 - 6.2 ft). Weight: typically 60 - 300 kg (132 - 661 lb). Number of individuals: 850 000 – 950 000 individuals. Distribution: whole of North America (up to an altitude of 3 500 m). IUCN Red List status: Least concern.
This species is the smallest of the three North American species and is known as the Black Bear, or Baribal. It can be black, also brown, through dark red and light brown. The color of the bear reflects where it lives. This is the most numerous species of bear found. The global population is estimated to be more than twice that of all other bear species combined.
The American Black Bear is reproductively compatible with several other bear species, resulting in various hybrids. 16 subspecies are recognized:
- California Black Bear (Ursus americanus californiensis).
- Cinnamon Bear (Ursus americanus cinnamomum).
- Dall Island Black Bear (Ursus americanus pugnax).
- Eastern Black Bear (Ursus americanus americanus).
- Florida Black Bear (Ursus americanus floridanus).
- Glacier Bear or Blue Bear (Ursus americanus emmonsii).
- Haida Gwaii Black Bear or Queen Charlotte Islands Black Bear (Ursus americanus carlottae).
- Kenai Black Bear (Ursus americanus perniger).
- Kermode Bear or island white bear, spirit bear (Ursus americanus kermodei).
- Louisiana Black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus).
- East Mexican Black Bear (Ursus americanus eremicus).
- New Mexico Black Bear ( Ursus americanus amblyceps).
- Newfoundland Black Bear (Ursus americanus hamiltoni).
- Olympic Black Bear (Ursus americanus altifrontalis).
- Vancouver Island Black Bear (Ursus americanus vancouveri).
- West Mexican Black Bear (Ursus americanus machetes).
Tremarctos ornatus Maquipucuna. Source: Wikimedia
Andean (Spectacled) Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) Size: usually 1.2 to 1.8 meters (4 to 6 feet). Weight: usually 60 - 175 kg. Number of individuals: about 10 000 – 18 000 individuals. Distribution: South America (up to an altitude of 4 700 m). IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable.
The Andean Bear is the only South American bear and if you are lucky, you might come across it in Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador or Peru. It has short and thick brown to black fur. The telltale sign is whitish to yellowish markings that partially or completely surround the eyes and form "spectacles" that often extend down the neck to the chest. That's why it's called the Spectacled Bear. Locals also call it Achupalla ("tree-bark eater") or Ucumari ("bear with eye in hole").
The Andean Bear is mainly herbivorous and is most active at night. He is a very agile climber and likes to enjoy fruit in the treetops without any problems. This bear has one peculiarity and that is that it only has 13 pairs of ribs. Other bears have 14 pairs. There are no recognized subspecies of the Andean Bear.
The Himalayan Black Bear. Source: Wikimedia
Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) Size: usually 1.3 - 1.9 m (51 - 75 inches) + 7 - 10 cm (3 - 4 inch) tail. Weight: typically 100 - 200 kg (220 - 440 lb). Number of individuals: less than 60 000 individuals. Distribution: Asia (up to an altitude of 4 300 m). IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable.
This bear is also known as the Asiatic Black Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Dog Bear or White-chested Bear. Its most common color is black with a lighter muzzle. It has a white or cream spot in the shape of a crescent moon on its chest – hence the name Moon Bear. Even though they are omnivores, they are mainly herbivores. Of all the bears, the Asiatic Black Bear is the most bipedal, meaning that it walks on two feet, even for more than a quarter of a mile. The bear has a reputation for being extremely aggressive to humans.
There are 7 subspecies of Asian Black Bear:
- Baluchistan Bear (Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus).
- Formosan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus formosanus).
- Himalayan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus laniger).
- Indochinese Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus mupinensis).
- Japanese Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus japonicus).
- Tibetan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus thibetanus).
- Ussuri Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus ussuricus).
European Brown Bear. Source: Unsplash
Brown bear (Ursus arctos) Size: typically 1.2 - 2.1 m (48 - 83 in). Weight: typically 135 - 250 kg (300 - 550 lb). Number: more than 200 000 individuals. Distribution: North America, Europe and Asia (up to an altitude of 5 000 m). IUCN Red List status: Least concern.
The Brown Bear is one of the largest terrestrial carnivores. Only the Polar Bear can compete with it in size – and is also its closest relative. Despite the name, these bears are not always completely brown. Depending on the place of occurrence, for example, in China they can be two-colored, with a yellowish-brown or whitish collar over the neck, chest and shoulders, and, in India, reddish with silver hairs. Probably the best-known subspecies, the Grizzly Bear, can be from dark brown (almost black) to cream (almost white) or yellowish brown. They also often have darker legs.
The Brown Bear has a large number of described subspecies. Some sources say there are 86 and some even 90. The whole complex issue with individual subspecies is now in the hands of scientists, who are examining it at the DNA level. However, you will most often encounter these 16 subspecies:
- Alaskan Brown Bear (Ursus arctos alascensis).
- Dall Island Brown Bear (Ursus arctos dalli).
- East Siberian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos collaris).
- Eurasian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos arctos).
- Gobi Bear (Ursus arctos gobiensis).
- Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis).
- Himalayan Brown Bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus).
- Kamchatka or Far Eastern Brown Bear (Ursus arctos beringianus).
- Kodiak Bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi).
- Marsican or Appenine Brown Bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus).
- Peninsula Brown Bear (Ursus arctos gyas).
- Sitka Brown Bear (Ursus arctos sitkensis).
- Stickeen Brown Bear (Ursus arctos stikeenensis).
- Syrian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos syriacus).
- Tibetan Blue Bear (Ursus arctos pruinosus).
- Ussuri Brown Bear or Amur Brown Bear (Ursus arctos lasiotus).
Brown Bears also have hybrids, which scientists thought did not exist in the wild. Most of the time, crossbreeding took place in captivity, and these hybrids stayed there as well. In 2006, however, a Pizzly Bear (or Grolar Bear) – a cross between a Grizzly Bear and a Polar Bear – was confirmed in the wild. There are also Brown and Black Bear hybrids, among others.
Giant Panda. Source: Unsplash
Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Size: usually 1.8 meters (6 feet). Weight: more than 100 kg (220 pounds). Number of individuals: approx. 1 900 individuals. Distribution: Asia (up to 4 000 m above sea level). IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable.
In the 20th century, the Panda became an icon of the struggle to save endangered species. Its homeland is the forests of Central China, and there it also acquired names such as Da Xiong Mao, the "Great Bear Cat", Panda Bear or Bamboo Bear. It is the only species of bear to be a herbivore, specifically a folivore (leaf-eater). Its diet is 99 % dependent on bamboo shoots, but for the rest of its food, it does not disdain grass, tubers or even meat in the form of birds, rodents or carrion. It is solitary and territorial, does not make dens and does not hibernate.
The typical thick coat coloring is white, except for the contrasting black ears, eye patches, muzzle, legs and shoulders. The color exception is the Qinling Panda subspecies (Ailuropoda melanoleuca qinlingensis), which has dark and light brown fur, rather than black and white. The Red Panda, although sharing a name with the Giant Panda, is not related. It is not a bear, but rather closer to the skunk, raccoon and weasel.
There are two subspecies of Giant Panda:
- Chinese Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca melanoleuca).
- Qinling Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca qinlingensis).
Young Polar Bear, Northern Alaska. Source: Unsplash
Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Size: 2.4 - 3 m (7 ft 10 in - 9 ft 10 in). Weight: 350 - 700 kg (770 - 1500 lb). Number: approx. 26 000 individuals. Distribution: Arctic and northern North America, Europe and Asia. IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable.
The Polar Bear is the largest representative of bears and at the same time it is also the largest terrestrial carnivore. Because its food is more than 70 % dependent on meat (mainly seals), it is classified as a hypercarnivorous species. It is dependent on sea ice and is therefore classified as a marine mammal. It is a great swimmer and can spend several days in the water and travel hundreds of miles. It can swim at a speed of 10 km/h (6 mph) in water. It looks clumsy on land, but still maintains a speed of 5.6 km/h (3.5 mph) and sprints up to 40 km/h (25 mph).
The Polar Bear has no subspecies, although it was originally thought that there were two subspecies – the American Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus maritimus) and the Siberian Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus marinus). Anyway, the Polar Bear Specialist Group (PBSG) recognizes 19 subpopulations that thrive alongside each other. In 2022, one more hidden subpopulation was discovered in southeast Greenland, bringing the total number of recognized subpopulations to 20.
Sloth Bear in Ranthambore National Park. Source: Wikimedia
Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) Size: on average about 75 cm (30 inches) tall and 1.5 meters (5 feet) long. Weight: 91 - 113 kg (200 - 250 pounds). Number: less than 20 000 individuals. Distribution: Asia (up to an altitude of 2 000 m). IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable.
The Sloth Bear (Bhalu in Hindi) is found mostly in the Indian subcontinent and thus got the name Indian Bear. It is active at dusk and at night, feeding mainly on ants and termites, which make up more than half of its diet. It is helped by its pronounced lower lip and the gap between its teeth, which helps it to suck up insects. That's why it is also called a labiated bear. The Sloth Bear does not disdain fruit or, rarely, meat. It likes to enjoy honey, so it is not surprising that it was given the name Honey Bear by the locals.
Its fur is black in color (except for the light muzzle) and is long and shaggy. It has a white U- or Y- shaped mark on its chest. It has a long tongue and long hooked claws that allow it to dig for termites and excel in tree climbing.
There are two subspecies of the Sloth Bear, with the Sri Lankan Sloth Bear being smaller, with shorter fur and sometimes without a white marking on the chest.
- Common Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus ursinus).
- Sri Lankan Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus inornatus).
Sun Bear - Kaeng Krachan National Park. Source: Wikimedia
Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) Size: 1 - 1.2 meters (3.3 - 4 ft) with a 5 cm (2 in) tail. Weight: usually only 27 - 65 kg (59 - 143 lb). Number: 1 000 – 2 000 individuals. Distribution: Asia (up to an altitude of 3 000 m). IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable.
In the lowland forests of Southeast Asia, the smallest and rarest of bears, the Sun Bear is encountered. It is also known as Bruang, Dog Bear or Malayan Sun Bear. These bears have short black, dark brown or even red fur and a golden spot in the shape of a crescent moon on the chest.
It is also a great climber and thus the most arboreal bear. It spends much of the time in trees 2 to 7 meters (7 to 23 ft) above the ground, where it also sleeps. They are mainly nocturnal creatures and omnivores. Their food is ants, bees, beetles, termites, but also fruits and seeds and, of course, also meat in the form of birds or deer meat. A study in Central Borneo revealed that Sun Bears have an important role in dispersing the seeds of Canarium pilosum (a tree in the Burseraceae family). Of course, this bear also likes honey and is also called the Honey Bear.
Experts distinguish two species, one of which lives only in Borneo and the other inhabits the mainland and the island of Sumatra:
- Borneo Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus euryspilus).
- Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus malayanus).
Questions. Source: Unsplash
Myths about Bears There are many myths and half-truths around the life and behavior of bears. At least we will try to put the main ones in perspective.
The Koala, Red Panda and Raccoon are not bears Although the Koala looks like a small teddy bear and with its cuteness takes the first place in the popularity of animals in Australia, it is a marsupial that is related to wombats. It's the same with the Red Panda (although it is called a “Panda”). It has only the name in common with the Giant Panda and is much more closely related to weasels, bears and skunks. So, for example, to the Northern Raccoon is nicknamed the Bear Raccoon.
Bears can't run downhill The opposite is true. It may look clumsy when walking, but a bear doesn't care whether it's running downhill, uphill or on a slope. If the bear needs to, it is able to develop a speed of 50-60 km/h and can jump up to 7 meters. So never run away from a bear!
Will climbing a tree save you? It may seem like a great idea to save yourself by climbing a tree. But bears are great climbers from a young age. On the other hand, even if it does not climb the tree, with its 300-400 kilograms (a grizzly can weigh up to 800 kg), it can shake the tree hard.
A bear can't see well A bear's eyes are small compared to the size of its head, but its eyesight is at least as good as a human's. And that includes color vision. Compared to humans, however, it has much better vision in the evening or at night. So if you see a bear, there is a good chance that it sees you too.
Bears are unpredictable Although they do not have facial muscles like humans, they use quite clear body language and vocalizations. If you are attentive, you can notice the sounds made or the position of the ears. Also, the fact that if a bear is standing on its hindlegs, does not mean that it wants to attack. The bear is simply interested in something and needs to take a better look at it and explore the surroundings.
All bears hibernate In fact, it is rather the opposite. Hibernation evolved as a means of bridging periods when food is scarce. If the bear has enough food, it does not need to hibernate. We can divide bears into:
- Hardcore Hibernators (Brown Bear, and American Black Bear).
- Moderate Hibernators (Polar Bear and Asiatic Black Bear).
- Non-Hibernators (Giant Panda, Sloth Bear, Sun Bear, and Andean Bear).
6 out of 8 bear species are vulnerable or endangered.
The bear is big and strong, but even though it is not obvious at first glance, it is also very vulnerable. The challenges that man presents to bears through behavior and actions push bears increasingly out of their natural environment. Currently, six out of eight bear species in the world are listed as vulnerable or endangered.
The only exceptions are American Black Bears and Brown Bears, which are doing better in terms of population. In any case, it should also be added here that this does not apply to all subspecies and that some of them are in real danger of extinction. For example, the subspecies of the Brown Bear, Marsican and Appenine Brown Bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus), whose home is Italy, has about 50-60 individuals left in the wild.
Fragmentation, habitat loss and conflict with humans Deep and impenetrable forests have always been the bear's kingdom. Man, however, by his activities under pressure of the growing population, is forced to expand cities and roads, build industry, harvest wood, expand agricultural areas and tourist spots. The result of these interventions is either direct conflict between a bear and a person, which unfortunately always results in the loss of the bear. From the perspective of fragmentation of the landscape and isolation of the bear population, the impact may not be immediately apparent. Genetic degradation threatens bears more slowly, but with the same consequences.
Climate changes The vast majority of climatologists (97 %) agree that human-caused climate change is a reality today. For the Polar Bear, the effect of climate is directly visible in the form of the decline of the Arctic ice sheet and the lack of food. But climate change affects all bear species. It is necessary to perceive all connections and changes that happen in bear habitats – changes in the plants, seeds, animals and insects that make up their food. Although bears are a very adaptable species, climate change is happening faster than the entire ecosystem can adapt to.
Poaching and hunting Wherever a bear is found, it becomes a victim of poaching, and it doesn't matter what the reason is. It may be for a "sport trophy", for the fur, or for body parts (gallbladder or paws) that are mostly used in traditional Chinese Medicine. People can also perceive bears as a threat and kill them "preventively". Poachers also catch live bears, mostly cubs. The cubs are kept in captivity as a tourist attraction or for bear bile. If poachers catch cubs, they usually kill their mothers.
Lack of information about bears In the case of bears, their greatest enemy is human ignorance. Reluctance to learn and to inform oneself about the importance of bears to the ecosystem leads to exaggerated fear, which leads to senseless killing without trying to find a shared space.
Bears in captivity Many bears that are kept in captivity are kept in inadequate conditions. It may be zoos, circuses or private breeders. Bears are very intelligent and suffer a lot in captivity.
You can help to protect bears right from your own home!
Anyone can get involved in bear protection according to their skills and knowledge. Goodwill and awareness of the need to protect these creatures are important.
Collaboration with local communities Local communities are on the front lines of bear encounters, making them a major threat to bears. There is a risk of potential conflict here, and this is a good place to start. It is necessary to support education and build better awareness of the importance of the bear in the ecosystem. At the same time, it is possible to bring locals alternative sustainable economic opportunities, for example, the development of ecotourism.
The battle against poaching and illegal trade In cooperation with governmental and non-governmental organizations, it is necessary to exert pressure to end the illegal trade in live bears and cubs and their body parts. There must be better law enforcement and zero tolerance to traffickers.
Do not buy products made from bears! If you go on vacation to places where you will be offered items to purchase made from bears, do not buy anything! If the sellers do not have a market for these "gift items", the need to kill bears will also decrease.
Reduce your carbon footprint All bear species are affected by climate change, to which they cannot adapt so quickly. Let's try together to slow down the warming trend of our planet!
Ensure good living conditions in captivity If a bear is taken into captivity (for example, when finding abandoned cubs), it is necessary to ensure, in addition to good healthcare, sufficient space for movement and general well-being.
Research and observation Not all aspects of bear life are properly and fully explored. For example, understanding the hibernation cycle of bears could help humans on long space flights. We have answers to many questions literally within our reach. Instead of chasing bears with rifles, it is worth supporting research teams that can help us to unravel the mysteries of this creature.
Support for the creation and maintenance of protected areas Sufficient living space is important for a bear. On the one hand, for good genetic variability and on the other hand for sufficient distance from populated areas, to minimize conflict with people. Therefore, if you can, get involved in supporting the establishment of new protected areas and their maintenance. Ask your elected representatives what they want to do to protect bears.
Educate yourself and spread your knowledge Read, watch documentaries, and educate yourself in any other way. Be interested in facts, threats and solutions and talk about it with people around you. Become an advocate and a voice for bears!
Go on a bear safari Go on a bear safari and observe these amazing animals in their natural habitat. An unforgettable experience awaits you, as well as an understanding of how amazing these giants are.
