Over the centuries, bears have cemented themselves in the hearts and cultures of humankind for a multitude of reasons. From Winnie the Pooh to Smokey Bear, bears have fascinated us in all sorts of ways, and we have worked hard to better understand them, to varying degrees of success.
Indeed, bears are indispensable members of ecosystems around the world. Through their foraging, they help spread the seeds of all sorts of trees, plants, and fruits, help control the population of other species in their environments, and also feast on all those pesky bugs that annoy us humans. There is much, much more to these animals than meets the eye.
Curious? Read on to learn all about the world's beautiful species of bears.