Name: How the teddy bear taught us compassion
Uploaded: 2014-05-27T14:50:57Z
Duration: 14 min 2 s
Description: In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt legendarily spared the life of a black bear -- and prompted a plush toy craze for so-called "teddy bears." Writer Jon Mooallem digs into this toy story and asks us to consider how the tales we tell about wild animals have real consequences for a species' chance of survival -- and the natural world at large.

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In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt legendarily spared the life of a black bear -- and prompted a plush toy craze for so-called "teddy bears." Writer Jon Mooallem digs into this toy story and asks us to consider how the tales we tell about wild animals have real consequences for a species' chance of survival -- and the natural world at large.

How the teddy bear taught us compassion

Our perceptions of wild animals—once feared and demonized, now often celebrated—have shifted dramatically over time. The teddy bear was born when a political cartoon captured President Roosevelt sparing a tied and battered bear, transforming a symbol of danger into a beloved toy. This change reveals how the narratives we create can both soften attitudes and influence which species we strive to save. In today's age of 'conservation reliance,' our feelings and stories can determine the survival of entire species.