This book portrays bears and the panda as more than just an interesting group of animals. Although they are fascinating in many respects of their biology, they are also symbolic of the natural world, both in their own right and in the way that we humans treat them. The authors present a picture which encompasses science, natural history and another deeper - almost spiritual - aspect of bears. What emerges is an engrossing story of their lives and deaths.The book starts by explaining how and why bears have meant so much from early in our evolutionary history, how they have bridged the gap between the natural and spiritual worlds; and how, even today, they hold a special place in our society. It then describes the bears' position and uniqueness among carnivores, introduces the living species, charts their evolutionary history, tells how they live, what they eat, how they cope with their habitats, and looks at their behavior. It concludes with a re-examination of the interrelationship they have with us; how they suffer by our hand and how attempts are being made to reverse the damage we have done. Read Less