Goodbye Animals by Liz Ash : Goodbye Bear

We all carry stories. The experiences that we have in our lives make us who we are. Goodbye Animals is a hand illustrated series of 6 nearly extinct or endangered animals. What are the experiences of these animals? If they could tell their stories what would they say? Would we even listen?  I attempt to tell their stories in a visual narrative using ink and a collage format. The longer that you look at each animal, the more information you will uncover. 

Meet Goodbye Bear. Goodbye Bear carries the stories of the melting Arctic, Giant Pandas,  and Polar Bears.

Did you know:

• The polar bear is the largest land carnivore. 
• While the polar bear has white fur, his skin is actually black. The black color enables the bear to absorb sunlight energy to warm its body.
• Like humans, polar bears have a plantigrade stance: they walk on the soles of their feet with their heels touching the ground first. Like other bears, they can also stand on their hind feet and walk upright for short distances.
• Only female polar bears hibernate. Polar Bear males tend to be solitary animals.
• The giant panda has lived in bamboo forests for several million years. It is a highly specialized animal, with unique adaptations. There are only approximately 1600 Giant Pandas left in the wild. 
• No one knows exactly why pandas are black and white. There is only speculation.
• A newborn Giant Panda is the size of a stick of butter. 

Information from here and here.