Our goal is to uncover the hidden mysteries, to trigger the urge of preserving the magic and the life of the ancient forest: the main protagonist of our stories. This time we follow the inhabitants of the Ussuri forests in the Russian Far East — Ursus thibetanus — the Asiatic black bear. The Asiatic black bear is one of the largest and, at the same time, one of the most elusive mammals. The bear will guide us through the enchanting world of the ancient forests.

During a whole year of observing the bears, we will show the hidden connections between a lone tree, an animal and the whole ecosystem. The viewer will be given an opportunity to peek into the ancient home of thousands of beings, to experience the pace of the inhabitants' lives, to feel the rigidity and delicacy of its construction. Our film will tell the story of the challenges in the demanding life of the Asiatic black bear. We will visit the remaining intact Ussuri forests of Russia where the species is still considered a common occurrence.

The Asiatic black bear inhabits the mountainous forests of Southern, South-Eastern and Eastern Asia. Recently, as a result of poaching and habitat destruction, the animal has received the title of 'endangered' throughout the majority of the bear's habitat. The Russian Far East is home to one of the Asiatic black bear's largest subspecies: the Ussuri black bear. The combination of an athletic musculature, powerful shoulder girdles, relatively long forelimbs and a small body size allows for its semiarboreal lifestyle. The bears construct nests up in the trees from broken branches, where they can feed and rest. Forests with a healthy balance of Mongolian oak, Korean pine, acorns and varied nuts play a crucial role in the survival of the species. The bears spend their winters hibernating in tree hollows, where they can remain dormant for up to six months. The arboreal mode of life allows for the bear to escape its main competition and predators: tigers and brown bears, however, as of yet, not humans.

The flora and fauna of the Korean pine broad-leaved forests are characterised by the great variety of species with different origins. The 'Southern' and 'Northern' species form a diverse ecosystem of the Ussuri forest which ecologists refer to as 'The Northern Jungle'. Over 90 % of the Korean pine broad-leaved forests are currently exploited by human activities. Every year, the Asiatic black bear is faced with the challenge of occupying even smaller habitats.

Moreover, Asiatic black bear organs are often in high demand on the black market: the feet and bile of the species are used in Chinese cuisine and medicine. And just as the situation is worsening in other countries, habitat loss and poaching have become the main threats for the populations of the Asiatic black bear in Russia.