5 Bears

Our relationship with bears is complex. Some people think of bears as big, cuddly pets, while others see them as dangerous, wild animals. Many people want bears left undisturbed in the wild, while others want to hunt and kill them, confine them in zoos or use them for their fur, meat or body parts.

It's clear that bears are popular animals almost everywhere in the world. They're featured in fables, cartoons, children's books, television shows, documentary films and other media.

In 5 Bears we profile two bears that have become famous: Winnie, the real bear that led to the story Winnie the Pooh, and Wojtek, the soldier bear who became a war hero. We also talk about lesser known bears like Yupi, a polar bear who lived in Mexico, Jasper, who was rescued from a bear farm in China, and Vince who now lives at a sanctuary in the United States.

We hope their stories show what their lives were, and are, really like and the issues and challenges that all bears face. There are many myths and misunderstandings about bears. In 5 Bears we hope to set the record straight and convince you that bears deserve our respect, compassion and protection.

Today, bears in the wild are threatened and many bears in captivity are suffering. They need our help to ensure they survive and prosper in the years ahead. Our hope that after reading this book you'll decide it's time for you to do your part to help bears.