Eight Bears

Bears have long held a central place in our collective memory, from Greek mythology and Indigenous folklore to medieval fairytales and the modern toy shop. But as humans and bears come into ever-closer contact, our relationship nears a tipping point. Today, only eight bear species remain, some icons of the natural world (such as the panda bear and the polar bear), others obscure (such as the spectacled bear and the sloth bear). From the cloud forests of the Andes to the ice floes of the Arctic, the jungles of India to the woods of the Rocky Mountains, journalist Gloria Dickie explores each bear’s story, meeting figures on the front lines of conservation efforts and explaining the unparalleled challenges bears face. Weaving together ecology, history, and mythology, Eight Bears reveals our volatile relationship with these magnificent mammals—and warns us what we risk losing if we don’t learn to live alongside them.