There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
Tracking Gobi Grizzlies.
The bear was a female. Though missing a patch of fur along one shoulder and part of her neck, she showed no obvious signs of recent injury or infection. This Gobi bear, like others I'd seen up close after capture, showed an astonishing amount of wear on her teeth. If she were a North American grizzly, I'd have guessed her age at more than twenty years. By Harry's estimate, she was about six years old. As I ran my fingers over the blunt fangs and ground-down molars, she growled as she exhaled. The sound wasn't fierce; more of a bearish sigh. Who could say what this grizzly's mind was processing as she lay there helpless, unable to connect any messages from her nerves to the muscles that had always overpowered whatever stood in her way? She couldn't even blink, so we had squeezed lubricant drops into her eyes to prevent them from drying out and covered them to keep out the dust. When her blindfold slipped off, I bent down to readjust it and felt her breath moisten my skin. Her body gave off all kinds of fragrances - some musty, some sharp, others rich and gamely. The sum of them smelled sweet.
Bears of the Himalayan Mountains
