MEET 399
“She is an amazing bear. The number of offspring that she's had, that she's 26 years old, she's had a set of quadruplets, and raised them all to sub-adulthood. If you're a bear specialist, if you understand behavior, she's really special because of the success that she's had. So from the two points of view, she's loved by people who don't know much about bears except through photographs and stories. And she's admired by the scientists studying her because they know that she is a very special bear." -Jane Goodall
“What an extraordinary story Grizzly 399 has to tell.” Anderson Cooper
Grizzly #399, named for her National Park tag number, has become a global icon, rocketed to fame by the portraits of award-winning photographer Thomas Mangelsen who has tracked her for decades. Unlike most wild grizzlies who keep to the backcountry, 399 is frequently sighted along roads and often attracts crowds of hundreds of tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Known for consistently producing quadruplets—just as rare for grizzlies as for humans—and keeping them alive until adulthood despite the 50% survival rate for young bears, 399 has captivated the world with her resourcefulness and intelligence. Now, as “conflicts” between bears and humans become more and more frequent, 399 has become a controversial symbol for all sides.
About Thomas
An award-winning wildlife photographer and conservationist, Thomas Mangelsen has photographed wildlife on all seven continents. Mangelsen started his career following the cranes of the Platte River but soon expanded his interests to capture all kinds of wildlife, trekking across the world to follow migrations and encounter new species.
One of his photographs, “Catch of the Day,” is widely considered the most famous wildlife photograph in the world. Thomas has been named Wildlife Photographer of the Year and his work has appeared in National Geographic, Life Magazine, as well as in countless galleries and museums. His conservation work and photography have been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, ABC, and 60 Minutes.
Thomas first encountered Grizzly 399 and her cubs in May of 2006 along the Snake River and has chronicled her life since then. It was his photos of 399 that catapulted her to international stardom and Tom has used his connection to 399 to advocate for the conservation of her species.