SPECIES Kodiak Bear
TAXONOMY Ursus arctos middendorffi 
STATUS Not Listed

Living in isolation for over 12,000 years, the Kodiak Bear is the largest bear in the world. It is a unique sub-species of the brown bear. It can weigh up to 700 kgs (1500 lbs) and stand over 3 meters (10 feet) tall. Residing on the islands of the Kodiak Archipelago in Alaska, it was the primary source of food, clothing, and tools for the Native tribes that honoured their spirit by leaving the bear head in the field as a sign of respect. 

Although generally a solitary animal, studies have observed a well developed social structure and complex language occurs within large concentrations of Kodiak bears when feeding in small areas. Even though bears are thought to be primarily meat eaters, they actually consume more in grass, plants, and berries.

 With competition for territory with local cattle ranchers, the Kodiak Bear has been at war with man for over 200 years. Since the 1930s, ranchers have attempted to control them with fencing, dogs, and even shooting at them from aeroplanes. Today, hunters are allowed to hunt (for a large fee) up to 500 bears per year to keep populations under control.

This piece forms part of a themed collection that is focused on threatened species in North America. Through the expansion of European settlement, many species have been exposed to disease, poisoned, displaced, hunted, or eradicated. Raising awareness remains as the most significant challenge in the effort to reduce these possible outcomes. These represent the absence of the existence of wildlife in their natural environments.

This series has specifically utilised heat, flame, and soot to achieve the varying golden browns and charcoal greys present in the finished artwork.

Updated 20 February 2020