Photographer Jack Plant's Decade-Long Quest for the Rare Spirit Bear Culminates in New Book

Photographer Jack Plant's new book, Spirit of the Great Bear, documents his immersive journey into British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest, focusing on the elusive Kermode bear, also known as the spirit bear. With an estimated population as low as 50 individuals, these rare white-furred black bears symbolize the fragility of this wilderness. Plant's fascination began in 2011 after seeing a National Geographic cover by photographer Paul Nicklen, which depicted the rainforest. Over a decade later, Plant collaborated with the Kitasoo/Xai'xais First Nation, including Hereditary Chief Charlie Mason and community member Mercedes Robinson, gaining traditional knowledge and being adopted by the chief in Klemtu. He also worked with Spirit Bear Lodge teams, facing challenges in locating new bears due to the vast, difficult terrain of fjords and inlets. The book, published by Figure 1 Publishing and available for pre-order, features photographic encounters not only with spirit bears but also with grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, orcas, and humpback whales. Plant hopes the publication inspires conservation efforts and connects with readers passionate about wilderness protection. Photographs from the project, such as one taken in Khutze Inlet in 2019, highlight the region's biodiversity.