Grizzly Heart tells the remarkable story of how Russell and Enns have defied the preconceptions of wildlife officials and the general public by living unthreatened -- and respected -- among the grizzlies of Kamchatka. In an honest and immediate style, Russell tells of the trials and successes of their years in the field, from convincing Russian officials to allow them to study, to adopting three bear cubs left orphaned when their mother was killed by a hunter (and teaching these cubs how to survive in the wild), to raising environmental awareness through art.

Through a combination of careful study and personal dedication, Russell and Enns are persuading people to reconsider the age-old image of the grizzly bear as a ferocious man-eater and perpetual threat. Through their actions, they demonstrate that it is possible to forge a mutually respectful relationship with these majestic giants, and provide compelling reasons for altering our culture.

"We have been able to live beautifully with these animals, with no serious threat, because of what we've learned. Hopefully, sharing what we learn will help people -- and be a big help to our bears, too."

REVIEW QUOTES

"An absolutely remarkable and well-documented account of close encounters with grizzlies. This book is a truly fascinating adventure in nature with an invaluable wealth of insider information on both bear and human behaviour." -- Robert Bateman

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Renowned naturalist, writer and photographer Charlie Russell has extensive experience working with grizzly bears in Canada, and is the author of The Spirit Bear. With his partner, artist and photographer Maureen Enns, Russell has lived among the bears of the Kamchatka Peninsula each of the past five years. In 1997, their work was the subject of the documentary Walking With Giants. When not cohabiting with bears, Russell and Enns live in Cochrane, Alberta.