B.C.'s elusive spirit bear emerged for a close-up photo shoot

[oldbrownhat]

This is closer than I'd want to get to one of these but still...

Wildlife photographer Paul Nicklen recounts the moment he came within a metre of a rare spirit bear or kermode and captured intimate portraits of the iconic animal.

They're actually black bears, but one recessive gene makes a few of them white. Fewer than 150 around.

Video story here.

 

[Peak53]

I've read about this bear. Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

 

[jeffrefrig]

We always have at least one white deer running around up here.
Bear sightings every so often, but just the black bears.
That's a cool-looking bear. Like a miniature Kodiak. Hope he just ate.

 

[Baxter6551]

Ahhhhhhhhhh….. that close….. sorry…. NO !
And if I was I wouldn't have a camera in my hand.
But .. beautiful animal.