BearsBears

Bears, like other carnivores, trace their pedigree back to the miacids, small, snouted, weasel like

animals that lived 50 million years ago. Some 38 million years ago bears began to go their own evolutionary way. The first clearly bear like

animals was Amphicynodon; the first true bear was Ursavus (both represented in the form of

skulls, the only evidence available). The modern genus Ursus appeared between five and ten million

years ago.

They (ursids) are the heavyweights of the land varnivores and generally omnivores (omnivores = an animal that is both vegetable and animal food

necessary has to survive) , with a preference for vegetable food. After a period of eating meat more or less esclusively, they became omnivores for still

not yet explained reason. The giant panda departed the furthest from a

strictly carnivorous diet until recently they were thought to be strict vegatarians.

The polar bear with scant choice of food in the Arctic became largely carnivorous and developed

into an expert swimmer and stalker in order to hunt seals, its favorite prey. The bears maintained the talents of some early miacids for tree-climbing.

Brown BearBrown Bear

Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) is Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) is

the most widespread member the most widespread member of the bear family, which is of the bear family, which is

found throughout Europe, Asia found throughout Europe, Asia and North America. and North America.

Scientifically, more is known Scientifically, more is known about brown bear than any of about brown bear than any of the other bear species escept the other bear species escept for the American black bear.for the American black bear.

Despite its name, the brown Despite its name, the brown bear ranges in color from black bear ranges in color from black

to yellow, reddish and even to yellow, reddish and even beige. In some areas, brown beige. In some areas, brown bears grow as large as polar bears grow as large as polar

bears and in other places they bears and in other places they are less than half that size.are less than half that size.

Because of these differences in Because of these differences in size and colour , people used to size and colour , people used to

think there were many think there were many different species, not just on.different species, not just on.

In the northern hemisphere the brown bear In the northern hemisphere the brown bear was long feared, admired and even was long feared, admired and even

worshiped as the king of beasts, taking a worshiped as the king of beasts, taking a special place in folk tales.special place in folk tales.

As with American black bear, brown As with American black bear, brown bears (Ursus arctos) have been the subject bears (Ursus arctos) have been the subject of considerable taxonomic 'splitting' into of considerable taxonomic 'splitting' into

subscpecies, the subscpecies, the GrizzlyGrizzly and the and the KodiakKodiak are are probably the best known.probably the best known.

GrizzlyGrizzly

The term "grizzly" addresses in addition, Grizzlies on the The term "grizzly" addresses in addition, Grizzlies on the white-grey speckled upper skin, which particularly animals white-grey speckled upper skin, which particularly animals

in the Rocky Mountains exhibit, from yellow-brown to dark-in the Rocky Mountains exhibit, from yellow-brown to dark-brown or nearly black colored. The color depends brown or nearly black colored. The color depends

particularly on the habitat, in the special one on the food and particularly on the habitat, in the special one on the food and on the climate.on the climate.

The size decreases generally from the north to the south, The size decreases generally from the north to the south, while they can weigh in the north up to 680 kilograms, and in while they can weigh in the north up to 680 kilograms, and in

the south from 80 to 200 kilograms.the south from 80 to 200 kilograms. The grizzly bear male is on average 1.8 times as heavy as the The grizzly bear male is on average 1.8 times as heavy as the

grizzly bear female. Despite its massive figure he can run grizzly bear female. Despite its massive figure he can run with a speed of over 60 km/h. The legs before and the with a speed of over 60 km/h. The legs before and the shoulders of the grizzly are particularly massive and shoulders of the grizzly are particularly massive and

powerful and allow him to dig.powerful and allow him to dig.

Grizzly bear climbs Grizzly bear climbs with the trees to with the trees to unearth honey, unearth honey,

swims easily.It uses swims easily.It uses its claws to fight, its claws to fight,

seek its food and to seek its food and to mark its territory mark its territory on the trunk of the on the trunk of the trees. Its sense of trees. Its sense of

smell is well smell is well developed. The developed. The

grizzly has 30 years grizzly has 30 years an average lifean average life

Kodiak BearKodiak Bear

Kodiak Bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi) is the Kodiak Bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi) is the largest terrestrial carnivore. It is a variety of brown largest terrestrial carnivore. It is a variety of brown bear living Alaska. The kodiak bear draws its name bear living Alaska. The kodiak bear draws its name

from the island Kodiak, one of the islands of the gulf of from the island Kodiak, one of the islands of the gulf of Alaska, but one also finds some on the peninsula and Alaska, but one also finds some on the peninsula and

the close islands, like Afognak and Shuyak.the close islands, like Afognak and Shuyak.

The size of the large males exceeds 3 m and The size of the large males exceeds 3 m and their weight can reach a ton. As in all the brown their weight can reach a ton. As in all the brown

bears, the color is very variable from one bears, the color is very variable from one individual to another. Some are greyish, others individual to another. Some are greyish, others very dark, others of brown clearly drawing on very dark, others of brown clearly drawing on

the yellow.the yellow.

Black bearBlack bear

Contrary to popular belief, black bears have Contrary to popular belief, black bears have both a good sense of smell and good eyesight. both a good sense of smell and good eyesight.

Despite the fast that their lumbering gait (a Despite the fast that their lumbering gait (a result of having hind legs longer than result of having hind legs longer than

forelimgs) gives them an awkward appearance, forelimgs) gives them an awkward appearance, they are extremely intelligent. Black bear are they are extremely intelligent. Black bear are

found in variety of colors and there are 16 found in variety of colors and there are 16 curently recognized subspecies, which is curently recognized subspecies, which is

considered threatened. As a whole, though, the considered threatened. As a whole, though, the species is increasing in numbers after reaching species is increasing in numbers after reaching

a low point caused by human persecution.a low point caused by human persecution. Black bears caught poaching outside a Black bears caught poaching outside a national wildlife refuge in Georgia, according national wildlife refuge in Georgia, according

to one refuge manager, show real sagacity. to one refuge manager, show real sagacity. Although many people do not regard black bear Although many people do not regard black bear as dangerous animal, they can unquestionably as dangerous animal, they can unquestionably kill human beings as readily as their grizzly kill human beings as readily as their grizzly

cousins.cousins.

Polar BearPolar Bear

Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) is descended from brown bear ancestors

that became permanently bleached and reshaped by the harsh environment north

of the Artic Circle (polar bear habitat). The polar bear swim like be born in

water and are indeed an excellent swimmer, with a long neck, powerful

sloping shoulders, padling membranes that web half the length of its forepaws and a thick, oily fur that sheds seawater

ad helps insulate the bear against the cold.

The polar bear can without resting 80 km by ice-cold water to swim.

Panda BearPanda Bear

Since there are so few captive Since there are so few captive pandas, the Chinese government pandas, the Chinese government

has officially banned hunting them has officially banned hunting them and only rarely permits their and only rarely permits their

export. The panda remains one of export. The panda remains one of the world's most mysterious the world's most mysterious

creatures, nearly as baffling a creatures, nearly as baffling a subject of investigation in captivity subject of investigation in captivity as it is when free. The giant pandas as it is when free. The giant pandas

remote and nearly inaccessible remote and nearly inaccessible HImalayan habitat and the HImalayan habitat and the

protection provided by the Chinese protection provided by the Chinese government safeguard it from government safeguard it from

hunters guns. Signicificant studies hunters guns. Signicificant studies of pandas in the wild does not exist. of pandas in the wild does not exist. Almost all scientific knowledge of Almost all scientific knowledge of

their behavior has of necessity been their behavior has of necessity been based on observations of captive based on observations of captive

animals in zoos.animals in zoos.

Teddy BearTeddy Bear

The teddy bear, that cherrished companion of both the young and old,

seems always to have been around, played with by

generations of children as far back as anyone can

remember. For collectors is difficult to believe that there was was ever a time before

they existed. But surprisingly, their origin is relative modern and he is

just 105 years old.

The End

Presentation has prepared by Korotich KatyaKorotich Katya