Concept in Definition ABC

The bear is a mammal of great size and strength that inhabits areas with little presence of humans, generally in remote mountains. It is an omnivorous and plantigrade animal, with thick hair, strong teeth and claws that are used to climb trees or hunt prey.

At present, there are several species of bear and almost all of them are in danger of extinction (especially the giant panda, the grizzly, the polar bear or the brown bear).

The hibernation process

Among its various characteristics, there is one that stands out above the others: hibernation. It is a phenomenon associated with winter weather conditions and consists of a drastic reduction in vital signs (heart rate and body temperature) to keep you in a state of lethargy during the long, cold winters. Before hibernation, bears consume large amounts of food and thus prepare your body to minimize your consumption from Energy.

The bear in the lives of men

The bear is an animal of great fierceness, something that has been reflected in all kinds of testimonies (the fight of some men or characters with these animals, as reflected in the novel "Miguel Strogoff" by Jules Verne). Despite this, the bear is an animal that arouses sympathy because it has a friendly and sympathetic appearance. Proof of this is the teddy bear, possibly the most international teddy among children.

In the circus world, the bear continues to be one of the most valued attractions. However, groups in favor of animals are trying to make this practice disappear. Something similar happens in the world of hunting, since traditionally the bear has been a highly valued piece and this has caused its presence to decrease notably (as happened in Romania with the hunting fondness of the dictator Nicolae Ceaucescu).

The figure of the bear among the children

The bear as a character is part of a long tradition: in fables (one of the best known is that of the three bears) or a whole series of animation characters (Baloo, Bubu, Misha, Yogi bear, among many others). It has also been employed as icon, as in the state of California, as a symbol of the city of Madrid or as a mascot of the Olympic Games from Moscow in 1980.

The force of the bear is collected in some expressions. There is a very curious one (the bear hug), which expresses a sui generis circumstance: when someone shows you honey but he's actually betraying you (he thought they were supporting him even though it was actually the hug of the bear).