Himalayan bear

The Himalayan black bear (''Ursus thibetanus laniger'') is a subspecies of the Asian black bear found in the Himalayas of India, Bhutan, Nepal, China, and Pakistan.

Description

It is distinguished from ''Tibetan black bear, U. t. thibetanus'' by its longer, thicker fur and smaller, whiter chest mark. During the summer, black bears can be found in warmer areas in Nepal, China, Bhutan, India and Tibet at altitudes of up near the timberline. For winter, they descend as low as , to more tropical forests. On average, they measure from nose to tail and weigh from , though they may weigh as much as in the fall, when they are fattening up for hibernation.

Behaviour and ecology

Diet

They are omnivorous creatures (like most bears) and will eat just about anything. Their diet consists of acorns, nut (fruit), nuts, fruit, honey, Root, roots, and various insects such as termites and beetle larvae. If food is scarce, they may turn to eating livestock such as sheep, goats, and cattle.

Breeding

They reach sexual maturity at approximately three years. Mating occurs in October with usually two cubs born in February, while the mother is still hibernating. The offspring usually stay with their mother into the second year.

Status

This subspecies is listed as 'vulnerable' due to encroachment of human population, forest fires and the timber industry, timber industries; these have all reduced the bear's habitat. There is also a high mortality rate among the newborn. And even though hunting of the black bear has been forbidden since 1977, there is still a large problem with poaching.

References

External links

* Himalayan black bea
versus
Bengal tiger at Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan

{{Taxonbar, from=Q11954112

Asiatic black bears
Carnivorans of Asia
Mammals of India
Mammals of Pakistan
Mammals of Nepal