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When Arix Zalace captured this photograph of a young Max, the roughly two-month-old black bear appeared to be discovering his body and all he was for the first time. The mother was nearby, and Zalace had spent over a year with her, which allowed her to feel comfortable in his presence while he collected footage for The Paper Bear. Through this upcoming feature film, Zalace and his team work to bring awareness to the immense biodiversity in the Florida Panhandle through the eyes of its majestic black bears. This photograph, titled Curiosity, is one of fourteen belonging to The Paper Bear Limited Art Series, which depicts Zalace’s incredible experiences filming wild black bears in the state forests of South Walton, Florida.

To learn more or purchase limited-edition prints, visit ThePaperBear.org. | Photo by Arix Zalace