Of all the bears in my portrait series, Wojtek may have the most extraordinary story. Adopted as a cub by Polish soldiers during World War II, this Syrian brown bear became a beloved companion and an official member of the Polish Army’s 22nd Artillery Supply Company. During the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944, Wojtek helped carry heavy ammunition crates to artillery positions, supporting the soldiers who had become his family. After the war, he lived at Edinburgh Zoo until his death in 1963.
His remarkable service inspired the unit’s emblem of a bear carrying an artillery shell.
I’ve heard Wojtek’s story for years through podcasts, documentaries, and chance discoveries, and when my bear series began, his inclusion was inevitable. More than an unusual wartime mascot, Wojtek represents courage, companionship, and an almost unimaginable bond between humans and animals. Few bears have captured my imagination quite like this one.
