The large, powerful omnivore that always commands respect Bears
are large, omnivorous mammals of the family Ursidae. There are 8
bear species each of which has varied habitats, ranges, diets
and characteristics. They are: black bear, brown bear, polar
bear, Asiatic black bear, sloth bear, spectacled bear, sun bear
and giant panda. Bears are characterized by their plantigrade
walk (on their heels, like humans), a large body, short legs, a
stub of a tail, small round ears and forward facing eyes. The
males are usually larger than the females, sometimes as much as
50% larger. Sun bears are the smallest and polar bears are the
largest. Polar bears are also the largest land living carnivores
on earth. The spectacled bear is the only bear species in South
America and one of the most emblematic mammals of the tropical
Andes. Brown bears are the most widespread and are known as
grizzly bears in North America. The giant panda, which is also
WWF’s emblem, is a universal symbol of species conservation.
Bears' powerful l