Shadow of the Bear : Travels in Vanishing Wilderness

English

ISBN: 1596911980

EAN: 9781596911987

Category: Nature / Bears/Nature / Animals/

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Release Date: 07/01/2006

Synopsis: Around the world in pursuit of the beast we fear, revere, abuse, and adore. Weve been meeting bears in the wilderness, and in our dreams, since the dawn of human history. Celebrated in art and myth since we began drawing on the walls of caves, they cast a long shadow over our collective subconscious. Wherever bears endure, they are an indicator of the health of their ecosystem. Their decline--some to the edge of extinction--foretells a bigger story: that of our planets peril. In a series of remarkable journeys, Brian Payton travels the world in search of the eight remaining bear species. Along the way, he confronts poachers in the jungles of Cambodia, witnesses the cruelty of the bear bile trade in China, and delves into the politics of panda sex. From the reclusive spectacled bears of Peru to the man-eating sloth bears of India, Payton captures the power and beauty of these fascinating creatures while exploring their unique place within very different cultures. Vivid characters, exotic landscapes, and deft storytelling make for an unforgettable trek down the braided path of bear and human history. Brian Paytonhas written forThe New York Times,TheChicago Tribune,theBoston Globe,theGlobe and Mail,andCanadian Geographic. He is the author of the novelHail Mary Corner. He lives with his wife in Vancouver. We have been meeting them in the wilderness, and in our dreams, since the dawn of human history. Immortalized in art and myth since we began drawing on the walls of caves, they cast a long shadow over our collective subconscious. Wherever bears endure, they are an indicator of the health of their ecosystem. Their decline--some to the edge of extinction--foretells a bigger story: that of our planets peril. In a series of remarkable journeys, Brian Payton travels the world in search of the eight remaining bear species. Along the way, he encounters poachers in the jungles of Cambodia, the cruelty of Chinas bear bile trade, and Canadas insatiable polar bear paparazzi. From the spectacled bears of a cursed Peruvian mountain to the man-eating sloth bears of India, Payton captures the power and beauty of majestic creatures while exploring their unique place within very different cultures. His quest ultimately leads to the Colorado Plateau, where an ancient reverence for black bears collides with the will of trophy hunters in pursuit of game they do not eat. Brian Payton is the real Grizzly Man. With energy, freshness, and no small amount of humor, he takes us deep into bear country--a place that exists not just in the forests of India and Peru, but, as Payton shows us, within each of us. Never has the primal bond between man and bear been so richly explored.--Michael DOrso, author ofEagle BlueandPlundering Paradise Brian Paytons global journey into bear country is one-of-a-kind. In this fearless--and fearlessly honest--exploration of the habitats and histories we share with the eight surviving species of bear, Payton takes us to places most of us would never think or dare to go. He is an eloquent witness to a series of beautiful and terrible collisions taking place between humans and bears as we compete for habitat and resources. At its core,Shadow of the Bearis a mirror; in it we are offered not only a wild reflection of our former selves, but a stark assessment of how much it will cost us to lose the deep ancient connection we share with these astonishing creatures.--John Vaillant, author ofThe Golden Spruce Payton reminds us in his introduction that bears have been c

Excerpt: Unknown Property Excerpt

Shadow of the Bear : Travels in Vanishing Wilderness

Illustrated: Yes

Format: Hardcover

Height: 1.16 inches

Width: 5.72 inches

Length: 8.6 inches

Weight: 16.05 oz

Pages: 256