Save The Bears © 2006 Associated Press "Only you can make the darkness bright..." When planning a trip to an Outdoor area, you should first develop an Outdoor Safety Trip Plan to make sure you are traveling to a safe environment, and that you are prepared with the proper equipment to help keep the environment free of accidental wildfire. 1. Know your area. It is important to be familiar with the area you are traveling to – if camping, you should make sure to plan an escape route should you need to evacuate the area. 2. Develop a checklist. By following a few simple rules and reminders, you can help keep our outdoor park and woodland areas safe. 3. Are fire or travel restrictions in effect? Call the local Fire Department, Forest Service, BLM, State or other Federal Agency to make sure the area you are traveling to is restriction-free. 4. Weather Predictions. If you are traveling during fire season, it is best to avoid potentially dangerous weather patterns. 5. Select your campsite wisely. You should always use existing campsites and established fire rings when camping or building a fire. Click here to listen:  ONLY YOU ONLY YOU The Platters Only you can make this world seem right Only you can make the darkness bright Only you and you alone can thrill me like you do And fill my heart with love for only you Only you can make all the change in me For it's true, you are my destiny When you hold my hand I understand the magic that you do You're my dream come true My one and only you Only you can make all the change in me For it's true, you are my destiny When you hold my hand I understand the magic that you do You're my dream come true My one and only you... © The Platters & Smokey Bear. All Rights Reserved.   Get Outraged Panda Paws is raising awareness to the plight of all bears. To the left Andrew, a rescued bear by Animals Asia Foundation has only 3 paws. Andrew was the very first bear to arrive at Animals Asia Rescue Centre in Chengdu in October 2000 Below, Andrew is in his recovery cage. The photo was taken shortly after his operation to remove the catheter form his abdomen. The recovery cages are a temporary measure, they play an important role giving their vet team the ability to observe the bears pre and post surgery at close quarters, and very importantly ensure that the bears take their life saving antibiotics. They also give the bears time to adjust to more space and become used to new surroundings. Sadly, farmed bears tend to be terrorized by too much space at once and the recovery cages allow a gentle and secure introduction to their new world of freedom, before final release into the dens and sanctuary. The third picture shows two bears reaching beyond their cell and holding each others paws. These profound images speak a thousand words. You can see their silent cry. Be a voice for them. Become their voice unto the world. Please help save the bears. Over hunting and exploitation for profit are bringing some species of bear to the brink of extinction. Exploited for Profit Exploited for profit, The Moon Bear, The Sun Bear are killed by hunters and fortune seekers who raise them on "farms" and milk bile from metal catheters crudely implanted deep into their gallbladders. Some Moon Bears are imprisoned for over 20 years while others are killed and sold for parts for medicines and shampoos on the black market. A bears gall bladder is worth more than gold. (Bear bile is also used in wines, hangover tonics and sodas.) Other bears may be killed and eaten or tortured. Thousands of Moon bears suffer in a life of torture; entombed in tiny cages unable to move for years. Some of these poor bears try to mutilate or kill themselves by smashing their heads into the metal of their cages. Other bears are locked away from sunlight in concrete tombs and are discovered dazed and confused by rescue teams if they arrive in time. "Farmers" remove paws to sell, while the bears scream in agony. They thirst for water they are unable to reach and beg for food they can only smell. "Farmers" use honey and sweets to lure the bears into other cages where they are drained for the bile. Key Facts - courtesy of IFWA Official figures stand at 7002 Bears on 247 farms in China - 6764 of these bears are Moon Bears and the remaining bears are Brown Bears and Malayan Sun Bears. As far as we know there are no Grizzlies or Sloth Bears kept on bile farms. Bear farming began in China and South Korea in the early 1980s to supply bile for heart- and liver-related illnesses, high fevers, and burns. Today, there are at least 54 herbal alternatives to bear bile for the treatment of specific ailments. Asiatic black bears (Ursus selenarctos thibetanus) are often called "moon bears" because of the golden crescent in the fur on their chest. Moon bears live primarily in high altitude areas from Pakistan to Japan and inhabit the forests in the north and central regions of China. Their range extends from the Himalayas to Laos and Taiwan. Farming bears does not protect wild populations. Wild bears continue to be hunted for their parts throughout their range. The Polar Bears are threatened by oil spills, the Spectacled Bears are vanishing from South America due to habitat loss, environmental damage and excessive hunting. The Giant Panda Bears are critically endangered. Wild Pandas and other bears often get caught in horrific traps that lop off their delicate paws leaving them crippled or dying. American Brown and Black Bears are being unlawfully hunted in Alaska and other North American areas to be exploited on the "black market" as well. It's horrific and barbaric treatment of such a wise and intelligent race of animals.     Become The Bear You will not help the bears by hunting them. If you want to get closer to nature put down your gun and plant a tree. Poaching and exploiting bears is illegal and cruel. One day, perhaps evolution will reunite man with the concept of nature and all our relations. Become one with nature, become The Bear. Bears are similar in evolution in many ways to human development. We should give bears the time and considerations we had a few million years ago. Take a moment and consider: A world with out bears would be an awful place. Get outraged. For some bears this is the only life they will ever know. Unless you choose to help them. Organizations like Panda Paws are trying desperately to save the bears, but we need Your support to save them! The Bear Facts Bear densities are highest in places where human density is the lowest. For thousands of years bears and people have co-existed by fishing the same streams and hunting the same game. Bears held an important place in the lives of early cultures. Over the past 20 years, however, bear viewing has become increasingly popular, it has been proven that bear watching can be a safe and rewarding pursuit, with bears acting both peacefully and predictably. Brown Bears come in all sizes and colors. Size ranges from a 20-pound spring cub emerging from the den to a 1200 pound mature male, fat after a summer of feeding and color ranges from platinum blonde to deep chocolate. Brown Bears live a long life, 35- year-old individuals have been documented. When a bear meets a person, it communicates with the person as it would with another bear. Understanding this behavior is the best way to avoid problems. Bears are predictable - they are only unpredictable if we don't understand them bears don't have an agenda - they are not malicious animals out to "get" people, in fact bears usually choose to avoid people. Bears are social - bears of one area are familiar with one another and meetings consist of complex social exchanges. Bears are not territorial - bears share home ranges, however, bears will defend their personal space. Bears have a "critical space" around them-this critical space is different for every bear and varies from situation to situation. Bears live in a dominance hierarchy - mature males generally at the top, cubs at the bottom. Bears maintain their relative position within the hierarchy by being combative. Bears are curious about their environment - they often explore and examine new things in their world be it a person walking or a tent - this is not aggressive behavior. Bears are not always aware - bears are a top of the food chain predator-they have few fears. A bear following a trail doesn't always look ahead and a sleeping bear often sleeps very soundly. A standing bear is not acting aggressively - bears stand to get a better sense of what has attracted their attention. Bears can see at least as well as we do and their sense of smell is many times more acute than ours. Females with cubs are no more dangerous than any other bear all bears have the potential to be dangerous and should be treated with respect and caution, a few simple rules for moving through bear country be aware - bears may be where you least expect them. Taken from the book Living In Harmony With Bears A project of the Alaska Audubon Society Author Derek Stonorov Photos property of AAF, Photograph by Kennan Ward/CORBIS and each individual artisit Copyright Reserved Bear Behavior Bears are typically solitary animals. Much of their communication at feeding aggregations serves to maintain spacing and avoid conflict. Bears appear to have only a limited repertoire of behaviors for this purpose. These behavior patterns are not highly ritualized, as in some species; therefore, their meaning is largely dependent on the context of the situation. Descriptions of some of the behavior and general interpretation of meaning follow to help you understand what a bear may be trying to tell you. But remember that each encounter is unique. Postures Standing on hind legs A bear standing bipedally is typically not expressing aggression. Bears generally stand on their hind legs to gain more information, both olfactory and visual. Stationary Lateral Body Orientation A bear may stand broadside to assert itself in some instances. In encounters with humans, it has usually been interpreted as a demonstration of size. Stationary Frontal Orientation If a bear is standing and facing you, it is certainly not being submissive. This is an aggressive position and may signal a charge. It is likely waiting for you to withdraw. Vocalizations Huffing When a bear is tense, it may forcible exhale a series of several sharp, rasping huffs. A mother may also huff in order to gain the attention of her young. Woof A startled bear may emit a single sharp exhale that lacks the harsh quality of a huff. If her cubs woof, a mother will immediately become alert to the situation. Jaw Popping Females with young often emit a throaty popping sound, apparently to beckon their cubs when danger is sensed. A mother vocalizing in this manner should be considered nervous and extremely stressed. Bears other than sows also jaw-pop. Growl, Snarl, Roar A clear indication of intolerance. Other Indicators Yawning Indicates tension. This behavior may result from the close proximity of another bear or human presence. Excessive Salivation A clear sign of tension, salivation may appear as white foam around the bear's mouth. Charge The vast majority of charges are ones in which the bear stops before making contact. The intensity of the charge or associated vocalizations may vary, but it is distinct in that it is an aggressive or defensive act clearly directed at another bear or human. Bears may charge immediately, as a sow fearing for her cubs, or may emit stressed or erratic behavior before charging. From "The Bear Fact" published by the Alaska Natural History Association in cooperation with the National Park Service. Free The Moon Bears with Animals Asia Foundation The Best Panda Page Ever by Panda Information On Bears from Bears.org Learn About All Bears at The Bear Den Learn About Moon Bears by Earth Trust More About Moon Bears with IFWA   Photos property of San Diego Zoo, IFWA, Animals Asia Foundation & WWF. No infringement of copyright intended. © Panda Paws All Rights Reserved