Bear

• Description
• Images (1)

Bear begins 25 million years ago with 'dawn bear', the small dog-sized ancestor of all bears. Tracing the evolution of the bear family, the author discusses extinct types, such as the cave bear and the giant short-faced bear, as well as describing in detail the eight species that exist today. Several of these species are now facing extinction, and the book considers the impact of current human behaviour on bears and their environments.

Bear explores the bear-human relationship and how human perceptions of bears have changed over time. Drawing from cultures around the world, it discusses the various legends and myths, including the ceremonies and taboos that surround hunting, killing and eating bears.

The book concludes by considering the precarious future of the bear, threatened by loss of habitats, disease, pollution, global warming and poaching for the medicinal trade.

Robert E. Bieder is Research Associate and Adjunct Professor at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Indiana, USA. He is the author of many books and articles on North American natural history, folklore and ethnology.