Early Book Review: The Great Bear Rescue: Saving the Gobi Bears by Sandra Markle

The Great Bear Rescue: Saving the Gobi Bears by Sandra Markle is the latest in a series of books about threatened and endangered animals. It is currently scheduled for release on September 1 2020.  This book offers readers a fascinating look at Gobi bears—the rarest bears on the planet. These adorable animals face threats ranging from illegal gold miners to climate change. Find out more about these bears, which are considered a national treasure in Mongolia, and learn what scientists are doing to help this critically endangered species.

The Great Bear Rescue takes a look at the critically endangered Gobi Bear. Part of what makes them so special is what has made them so endangered. These bears have evolved to survive in a very specialized habitat- the Gobi desert in Mongolia. Since this is a desert, and they have to compete with other animals for food and water even under the best conditions, the added challenges of climate change and those seeking gold have caused their numbers serious harm. I was very interested to learn about the traits these brown bears share with grizzlies, and how they are very different. As usual, Markle does a good job of making the information accessible and interesting. The included images are very much a part of the narrative, and ad a great deal of visual interest. She also ties in the challenges faced by Polar Bears and includes a timeline and valuable backmatter for those interested in further research or checking out some of her source material.