The Asiatic Black bear's scientific name, Ursus thibetanus, literally means,
"moon bear of Tibet", and it is easily distinguished by the crescent shaped area
of white fur on its chest. This bear is also commonly called the Tibetan Black
bear or the Himilayan Black bear.
Distribution, Population and Range: The Asiatic Black bear resides in forests
throughout much of southern Asia. This area includes the countries of Pakistan,
Afghanistan, eastward into northern India, China and finally across south-east
Asia. Separate populations are also known to be present in eastern Russia,
Korea, Taiwan and Japan. In parts of their range, they share the habitat with
brown bears. At present, there is no firm estimate of how many Asiatic Black
bears are still in the wild. Throughout most of their range, few direct
conservation programs are established and where there is supposedly legal
protection, it is rarely enforced.
Physical Characteristics: The size and weight of the Asiatic Black bear displays
high variability depending on food availability and climatic conditions. On
average, adult Asiatic Black bears have a length between 140 and 165 centimetres
and a weight between 90 to 115 kilograms. Asiatic Black bears have a heavy,
stocky body comparable in size to the American Black bear. Their ears are large
and set far apart on their large, round heads. Their short claws, about 4 to 5
centimetres in length, are highly adapted to tree climbing.
Diet: The Asiatic Black bear remains an active carnivore even though it has
adapted to a variety of environments and will, in countries such as Japan,
subsist on a plant-based diet. Primarily a nocturnal animal, these bears will
readily kill other mammals and are responsible for destroying livestock.
Seasonal availability and geographic location are the biggest factors
determining the supplementary food sources of the bears. Eating virtually
anything edible, their diet also consists of termites, beetles, larvae, honey,
fruits, nuts and berries.
Hibernation: Given the extended distribution of the Asiatic Black bear,
populations, which inhabit cooler climates, hibernate. A very large adult male
Asiatic Black bear may weigh over 180 kilograms prior to hibernation. In the
warmer climates however hibernation does not occur and large weight gains aren’t
experienced.
Family Life: Very little information is currently known about the reproductive
behaviour of Asiatic Black bears in the wild. From observing zoo animals, it is
believed that breeding takes place over a one to two day period in late April to
early June. The female usually enters a rock cavity or hollow tree during winter
or early spring. Normally, she gives birth to two tiny cubs weighing
approximately 223 grams.
The survival of the cubs is extremely tenuous with predation by other animals
probably quite common. In certain parts of their range, they coexist with Brown
bears known to kill cubs. The survival of the bear cubs is totally dependent
upon the mother’s ability for instilling survival skills in her young. The cubs
will normally stay with the mother for the first year and a half until finally
driven off as she prepares to breed once more.
Conservation Status: The Asiatic Black bear is listed on Appendix 1 of CITES as
a species that cannot be traded commercially.
Threats: Despite being listed on Appendix 1 of CITES, the Asiatic Black bear
population is pressured by illegal poaching and habitat destruction. Most people
are familiar with the abuse of these bears in the bear bile farms. Here the
bears are condemned to spend the rest of their natural lives, which can be up to
25 years, in restrictive cages, periodically “milked” for their bile from a
permanently implanted catheter. A further threat to the survival of both parents
and cubs alike is the high incidence of poaching. Whilst the adults are less
likely to be taken for the illegal wildlife trade, the cubs are highly sought
after and many adults are killed in defence of their young.
Free the Bears Fund has campaigned against this barbaric practice since 1993 but
to date does not have a ground presence in China. Free the Bears Fund therefore
urges you to write to the Chinese President, The Honourable Jiang Zemin, to
express your disgust and outrage at the continued practice of bear bile farming.
The Asiatic Black bear is also captured and used for bear baiting in Pakistan.
Despite the illegality of this sport bear baiting events occur regularly and
promises by the Pakistan government to enforce legislation and confiscate bears
has to date been disappointing. Bears are poached from the wild, their teeth and
claws removed to render them defenceless, then chained to the spot whilst
several starved dogs are set upon the bear who vainly tries to defend himself.
The bears are returned time and again to the arena to undergo such punishment
until such time as they are no longer able to provide entertainment. The
physical and mental torment is unacceptable and Free the Bears Fund urges you to
voice your outrage.
References: The above has been prepared by reading the information provided by
Don Middleton on his web-site:
- www.naturenet.com/bears
- Bear Den at www.bearden.org
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