Asturias, the region where I live, has a nickname in Spanish: "paraiso natural." This nickname translates to "natural paradise." Asturias has earned this nickname because of the variety of landscapes, from the ocean to the mountains, that make up the region. It is also because of the flora and fauna that live and grow in these landscapes.
In my two months living in Asturias, I have encountered many animals: Asturian valley cows, goats, chickens, and horses. However, one animal stands out: the Cantabrian brown bear.
Cantabrian brown bears are smaller than other bears you might be familiar with. The bear I saw, named Molina, had silky brown fur that faded to a golden, wheat-like color around some parts of her body. Molina also had huge paws with sharp claws. I watched her dig her claws into an apple, one of the most common fruits grown in Asturias.
I was in awe when I saw Molina! Remember, Molina was rescued and couldn't successfully be reintroduced into her natural habitat. So, she lives in a protected section of the Asturian mountains in semi-freedom. Molina was a bit smaller than I expected, but I was still impressed by her size when she stood up.
