Elusive and hauntingly beautiful: what it takes to photograph spirit bears in their wild natural environment

In the Great Bear Forest of Canada, British wildlife photographer Jack Plant has spent a decade photographing spirit bears in their natural habitat. One day, he was tasked with helping a dying man, Chris, who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), find a spirit bear. Chris had about five years left to live, and the two of them embarked on a journey into a river system.

As they rested, Chris fell asleep, leaning against Plant's leg. Suddenly, a spirit bear appeared right beside them, startling both men. The bear approached the river and allowed Plant and Chris to capture some remarkable photos, with the foliage framing the scene. Plant explains that spirit bears, also known as ghost bears, are a rare white-coated variant of the Kermode bear, found almost exclusively in the coastal temperate rainforests of British Columbia.

There are believed to be fewer than 100 spirit bears spread across a vast and rugged landscape of around 64,000 square kilometers. Plant spent years learning about individual bears and their habits, eventually forming a deep connection with them. The experience of photographing a spirit bear remains a powerful and cherished memory for Plant, who has been fortunate to spend countless hours with these elusive creatures.