"Few animals possess such a variety of personas as the bear, which range from Callisto in the Greek legend to Winnie the Pooh. Robert E. Bieder tells the bear's story, from the small dog-sized 'dawn bear' that roamed the earth 25 million years ago to the eight species that exist today. Bear explores the bear-human relationship and how human perceptions of this animal have changed over time. Bear draws on the various legends and myths concerning bears, including the ceremonies and taboos connected with their hunting, killing and eating. It also covers the role of bears in modern culture as the subjects of stories, songs and films, as exhibits in circuses and zoos, and as toys. Bieder also considers the bear's precarious future, threatened as it is by loss of habitat, disease, pollution, global warning and poaching. Bear will appeal to everyone who is interested in the past, present and future of these extraordinary creatures."--BOOK JACKET.