Bear Necessities - by Lisa Kemmerer (Paperback)

About the Book

Twenty-two engaging and approachable essays, written by scholars and activists working to protect the world's eight bear species, explore pressures that threaten the world's remaining bears, offering a tapestry of possibilities for protecting and preserving these endangered yet much-loved beings.

Book Synopsis

What is it like to rehabilitate sun bears in the rainforests of Malaysia? Why are sloth bears trained to dance? How is traditional Chinese medicine implicated in the deaths of black bears in North America? Bear Necessities answers all of these questions, and many more. Through the voices of activists, scientists, and educators, readers walk alongside those who pull sun bears from Vietnamese bile farms, track Andean bears in the rugged hills of Ecuador, work to protect Montana's grizzlies in the courtroom, and gently heal the many wounded bears who live in sanctuaries around the world. Though almost every bear species is endangered or severely threatened, Bear Necessities offers hope through knowledge and understanding, which reside at the heart of change.

Review Quotes

"Lisa Kemmerer's book reveals not only the tragedy and cruelty being imposed upon bears internationally, but also the successes in combating it...Equally thought provoking, sad, joyful, inspiring, the reader will experience all these emotions as the pages reveal realities rarely known before. This book commands a treasured space on any bear-lover's bookshelf." -Mick W., North Shore Black Bear Network

About the Author

Lisa Kemmerer, PhD., graduate of Reed and Harvard, is a scholar and activist, and author/editor of nine books including Eating Earth, Animals and Environment, Sister Species, Animals and World Religions, and Primate People. You can learn more about her at lisakemmerer.com.