Until 7 January, the Latvian Museum of Natural History is hosting the exhibition 'Bears in Collages by Jelgava Art School Students and Works by Estonian Nature Photographers', inviting visitors to explore both portraits of bears created by children and the lifestyle of bears in the wild.

With the number of brown bears (Ursus arctos) increasing in Latvia, public awareness and understanding of these animals are becoming increasingly important. In Latvia, the bear is no longer just a visitor to the north-eastern border regions. After a hundred years, the species has returned and is gradually securing a stable position within the local fauna.

In the exhibition, visitors are invited to get to know bears in a variety of ways. Collages on the theme 'Bear Portraits' by 4th and 5th-grade students from the Jelgava Art School reveal different bear characters and personalities, brought to life through the grimaces, poses, costumes and figures created by the children.

Meanwhile, the life of the brown bear in the wild in Estonia can be explored in the photo exhibition 'The Bear – Our Neighbour'. The authors of the photographs are mostly experienced nature photographers, nature guides and hunters. During the creation of these works, principles of safe behaviour were observed, with photos taken from a hide or a safe distance to ensure that neither humans nor animals were exposed to immediate or potential future danger. The selected works provide unique insights into the lifestyle of bears, revealing their natural behaviour in the wild and allowing us to better understand them and become more knowledgeable. The photographs are complemented by the authors' stories and commentary from natural science experts.

Furthermore, every visitor to the exhibition has the opportunity to learn the sad story of a young, most likely human-habituated bear, compare the size of their own hand to a bear's paw, and find out what recommended behaviour to adopt when encountering a bear.