Pierre Leduc was born in Valleyfield in 1957. A biologist with a degree from Université du Québec in Trois-Rivières, he worked throughout his studies as a scientific illustrator in zoology, entomology and botany. Then he began a career as a naturalist painter. His travels and excursions to magnificent natural surroundings served as inspiration for his art. The quality of his work has led to major collaborative efforts at the national and international levels, and three of his works have already been commissioned by the Fondation de la Faune du Québec to illustrate wildlife habitat conservation stamps, namely the 3rd, 4th and 18th editions of the stamp (common loon, golden-eye duck and snowshoe hare).

The polar bear is the largest living land carnivore. Originating from Artic regions, the polar bear is perfectly adapted to his habitat thanks to a thick layer of fat and insulating fur that protects him from the cold. The survival of the polar bear hinges primarily on ice floes and drifting slabs of ice used as platforms during hunting forays. The polar bear digs his den in the flank of a snow bank generally near a river or stream, but rarely further than 8 kilometres from the sea. With the exception of females and their young, the polar bear is a solitary creature. He has piercing eyesight and a highly developed sense of smell; however, his hearing is rather poor.