Ian Stirling

Every once in a while a book comes along that combines both art and research so completely, so intuitively, that it becomes a classic, offering the reader not only a wealth of information, but an escape into the life of the subject covered. Polar Bears is such a book. Here, you will learn from one of the world's leading polar bear experts, Ian Stirling, how the polar bear evolved and adapted to its world of snow and ice. You will follow the life of the polar bear from its birth in a snowy show more den in the middle of winter through its fascinating methods of hunting seals on the sea ice, its seasonal migrations, and its passage into old age. And you will learn about the impact of man on the survival of this magnificent animal. Renowned wildlife photographer Dan Guravich's spectacular visual commentary captures the playfulness and the majestic beauty of the polar bear. show less

This is one of those heavy coffe-table type books full of beautiful photos. It was actually pretty easy to get through, most of it well-written and interesting. The book has several main sections, written by a variety of scientists. It discusses the evolutionary history of bears (answering a few of my questions about pandas), their biology and behavior. Each of the eight bear species has its own chapter, then there is a part about bears and people, everything from ancient bear myths and show more fables, to how bears have figured in art, to how bears have been affected by people hunting them, putting them in zoos and circuses, and finally, conservation efforts. This part dated the book somewhat, as it stated that the polar bear is the least threatened of all the bear species! The only part of the book I found disappointing were the chapters on bears in mythology, culture and art. That information wasn't presented as well, some parts felt choppy, others not unclear. However, if you want an all-around book about bears, this is an excellent choice with many wonderful illustrations.

from the Dogear Diary show less