Asiatic Black Bear, the cub

Habitat

• Live in forests – primarily in hilly or mountainous areas from the base of coastal foothills to approximately 13,000 feet.
• During the summer, they most often are found at higher elevations. They stay at or descend to lower elevations during winter.

Distribution

• Live in Iran, Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, east through the Himalayas, south to Bangladesh and Laos, and north through the Tibetan Plateau.
• Populations may also be found on Taiwan and on the Japanese Islands of Honshu and Shikoku. This population is called the Japanese black bear.

Physical Characteristics

Color

• Jet-black fur with a brown/tan muzzle and a whitish chin.
• Hair around neck and shoulders is thick and long with a mane-like appearance.
• Bears found in higher altitudes of the northern regions have a thicker coat.

Size

• Medium sized bears, weighing 200-225 pounds (90-101 kg).
• Large males can weigh over 400 pounds (180 kg), although this is rare.
• Usually between 55-65 inches (140-165 cm) long.

Features

• Ears are large and set far apart on their large, round heads.
• Short, strong claws used for climbing trees, opening termite mounds and peeling bark to eat.

Diet

• Omnivorous; eat termites, beetle larvae, honey, fruits, berries, and carrion.
• Sometimes prey on goats, sheep, and cattle.
• Peel bark from trees to eat the exposed sapwood (often results in the death of valuable timber trees).

Behavior

Daily Activity

• Nocturnal, often sleeping all day in a cave or hollow tree.
• Come out at dusk to look for food.
• Generally sit in the high fork of a tree to access their favorite foods. Where they sit is called a “bear’s nest.”
• The “bears’ nests” look much like birds’ nests and can be found over 60 feet (18 m) high in cherry, beech, oak, or dogwood trees.

Hibernation

• Some Asian black bears hibernate while others remain active all year, depending on habitat and how cold it gets.
• In colder northern regions, most den from November to March in hollow logs.
• Bears in southern parts of their range may sleep for short periods of time or descend to a lower elevation to find food.

Reproduction

• Usually mate in the spring or autumn, depending on location.
• Like North American black bears, Asiatic black bears delay implantation of the embryo until conditions are right for giving birth.
• Usually two cubs in winter or early spring.
• At birth, cubs weigh only about 1/2 pound each.
• At one month, cubs begin to follow their mother as she finds food.
• Usually cubs remain with the mother for two years.

People and Asiatic Black Bears

• Feared by humans because they have been known to kill livestock and attack people.
• Legal protection has been difficult to establish (some governments encourage trapping of bears).
• Chinese use bear parts (meat, gall bladders and bones) for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
• Bears may also be captured as cubs and trained to ride bicycles and dance.
• Currently, serious conservation efforts are unlikely because local people are so afraid of bears.
• If the present rate of hunting continues, these bears may become extinct.