1865 – She-Bear And Her Cubs

A sad and lamentable story of mans inhumanity to the animals he shares the planet with. This image, drawn in 1865,  is from “Animal Sagacity”, edited by Mrs S.C.Hall, and published circa 1866, by S.W.Partridge. It relates the tragic events of an arctic bear whose cubs were shot by sailors and her efforts to attempt to revive them and to grieve over them when they could not respond to her attentions. She then became naturally angry and was soon dispatched by the same vile perpetrators of the initial act, dying while licking the wounds of her cubs.  The story leads a wonderful collection of images and anecdotes of the worthy deeds of both animals and humans working in unision, and is a timely reminder of the tragic consequences, when mankind fails to live up to his responsibility to care for those under his dominion. The image is available in both A4 and A3 sizing options.