Kootzwoonoo in Tlingit translates to mean the Fortress of Bears and refers to the ancestral land known on maps today as Admiralty Island. This island is part of the ABC islands (Admiralty, Baranof, Chichagof). The ABC bears are unique genetically as they are not only related to brown bears, but also to polar bears. As the sea ice during the last ice age receded from these islands it left a population of polar bears stranded, and as the habitat changed it favoured the expanding range of mainland brown bears. Scientist believe hybridization of the two species began around 160000years ago, and eventually created bears who’s phenotype, genotype, and behaviour is that of brown bears. This population has been an important point of interest in learning about polar bear evolution, as well as seeing the other events that may play out in their demise with a warming arctic - extinction by hybridization. Photo taken on assignment with @mapleleafadvent @cangeotravel @cangeo in SE Alaska. @nikoncanada Z 9 with Nikkor 800mm f6.3 #alaska #alaskalife #nikonnofilter @nikonusa #nikonphotography #cangeoadventures #sharecangeo #zcreators #brownbear #grizzlybear #bearcub #explorealaska #yourshotphotographer #earthcapture #hellofrom #nature #usinterior