History of Bear in Timeline
Bears are carnivorous mammals belonging to the Ursidae family and are categorized as caniforms, resembling doglike carnivorans. Despite only eight existing species, they have a broad distribution, inhabiting various environments across the Northern Hemisphere and partially in the Southern Hemisphere, including North America, South America, and Eurasia. Modern bears share common traits like large bodies with sturdy legs, elongated snouts, small rounded ears, thick fur, plantigrade paws with five nonretractile claws, and short tails.
1902: Origin of the Teddy Bear
The "teddy bear", a stuffed toy in the form of a bear, was named after the American statesman Theodore Roosevelt in 1902 when he refused to shoot an American black bear tied to a tree.
1918: Arthur Rackham Illustrates "The Three Bears"
Arthur Rackham's illustrations for the fairy tale "The Three Bears" in 1918, a story previously published as "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" in 1837, solidified the tale's place in popular culture.
1944: Smokey Bear's Introduction
Smokey Bear was introduced in 1944 as part of a campaign to prevent forest fires, becoming an enduring symbol in American culture with his message: "Only you can prevent forest fires".
1982: The Care Bears Debut
The Care Bears, initially introduced as greeting cards in 1982, quickly gained popularity, expanding into toys, clothing, and film, becoming a recognizable symbol in popular culture.
1992: McLellan and Reiner's Bear Subfamily Classification
In 1992, McLellan and Reiner proposed a classification of bear species into seven subfamilies.
1997: McKenna et al.'s Alternative Bear Classification
In 1997, McKenna et al. proposed an alternative phylogenetic hypothesis, classifying all bear species within the superfamily Ursoidea. This classification differed by placing Hemicyoninae and Agriotheriinae within the family "Hemicyonidae" and placing Amphicynodontinae as stem-pinnipeds in the superfamily Phocoidea.
2005: Flynn's Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis
In 2005, Flynn conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis of six genes to understand the relationship between the bear family and other carnivorans.
2006: UNESCO World Heritage Site Designation for Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries
In 2006, the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries, home to a significant portion of the wild panda population, were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a significant milestone in panda conservation efforts.
2014: Qiu et al.'s Support for Bear Subfamily Classification
In 2014, Qiu et al. presented findings that supported the classification of bears into seven subfamilies.
2018: Law et al.'s Multigene Analysis Update
In 2018, Law et al. conducted a multigene analysis which updated the understanding of musteloids and their relationship to the bear family within the carnivorans.