A moving story of an injured grizzly bear rejected and hungry
Entries are starting to come in for the MPB Geographical Better World Video Awards. One of the first is this moving story of an injured grizzly bear struggling to survive in Alaska from Graeme Purdy and Vanessa Raw.
Leading wildlife photographer and filmmaker Graeme visited Alaska over a number of years to document the normally solitary grizzly bears gathering for the salmon runs where they feast on the nutritious fish. On his most recent trip he became captivated by one injured young male who had a pronounced limp and had been rejected by the other bears.
Graeme tells the story behind his film:
‘The video was created following a recent trip to Alaska where I visited one of the highest-density grizzly bear ecosystems on the planet. It is also an area under threat from mining development and seasonal hunting. My goal was to record a story that would help people connect with the animal, and help them relate to the toils and difficulties bears have in the wild.
‘I wasn’t sure what kind of story could be told but I knew if I spent time in the field with these iconic and charismatic animals that something would materialise. I didn’t know how much this bear would touch me. I was helpless to do anything to help the bear; all I could do was sit, observe and let nature unfold.
‘I must admit I well up every time I play this video and I hope this story can reach more people and engage with them about the plight of one of our most iconic mammals.’
This film has been entered in the MPB Geographical Better World Video Awards. Voting is now open! If this video gets your vote, click the button below. Voting will end on Monday, 26 February.
- The winner of the Group category – any organisation, charity, campaign group, school, college, university or team of friends – will win a £500 voucher from our sponsor MPB – the world’s largest platform buying, selling and trading used photo and video equipment. Plus a £1,000 donation to a charity or group they nominate.
- The winners of the Individual category (Over 18) a £500 voucher from MPB and US$3,000 towards a trip of a lifetime to Wakatobi in Sulawesi, Indonesia.
- The winner of the Under 18 category will receive a £500 MPB voucher.
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