THE
ASIATIC
BLACK
BEAR:
(URSUS
THIBETANUS)
The Asiatic Black Bear is listed on Appendix I of CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), which prohibits all international trade in these animals, or products and part thereof.
The Asiatic black bear has long thick fur and is distinguished by the crescent shaped white mark on its chest. It is also known as Tibetan Black bear, or the Himalayan Black bear As with so many bear species, the population is unknown, but it is thought to have declined by as much as 30 to 49% over the last 30 years. Existing estimates place their numbers worldwide at only 25'000. They are found throughout Asia and Siberia. Japan, where it is not currently protected by law, is the only country to have reported a recent increase in numbers. They are usually between 1.2 to 1.9 meters from head to tail, with females weighing in at up to 140 kilos, and males up to 200 kilos. They live for up to 30 years and are primarily carnivorous, but adapt their diet on food availability to include berries, honey, nuts and insects.
Some population such as the one in Japan have also developed a plant-based diet. They are nocturnal and some populations hibernate though not all. Little is known about their breeding habits, but females usually give birth to two cubs, weighing around 220 grams, who will stay with their mother for the first year and a half. They are usually solitary. Asiatic Black bears are threatened by habitat loss due to logging and growing human settlements, as well as poaching. They are often considered a pest and can be killed by farmers protecting their crops and livestock. Education about this bear is needed to limit this type of conflict, exemplified by the European black bear's relatively successful coexistence with people.
They are priced as gourmet food, especially their paws and feet, and as an ingredient in Chinese medicine. It is the species that has been the most affected by demand for gall bladders and bile and it is believed that some farms in China still illegally capture or acquire wild bears to supplement their captive numbers. The lives of captive bears in bile farms is well documented and as attitudes in China are changing, it is hoped that the market for these product will diminish sufficiently to put an end to this trade. It is also thought that, like sloth bears, Asiatic black bears are used in bear baiting events in Pakistan. The sport is illegal, but still popular in remote areas, with huge sums of money exchanging hands on bets. It is illegal but so far enforcement is difficult.
The black Asiatic bears are priced as gourmet food, especially their paws and feet, and as an ingredient in Chinese medicine.
It is the species that has been the most affected by demand for gall bladders and biles and it is believed that some farms in Asia still illegally capture or acquire wild bears to supplement their captive numbers. The lives of captive bears in bile farms is well documented and as attitudes in China are changing, it is hoped that the market for these product will diminish sufficiently to put an end to this trade. It is also thought that, like sloth bears, Asiatic black bears are used in bear baiting events in Pakistan. The sport is illegal, but still popular in remote areas, with huge sums of money exchanging hands on bets. It is illegal but so far enforcement is difficult.The Asiatic black bear has long thick fur and is distinguished by the crescent shaped white mark on its chest. It is also known as Tibetan Black bear, or the Himalayan Black bear As with so many bear species, the population is unknown, but it is thought to have declined by as much as 30 to 49% over the last 30 years. Existing estimates place their numbers worldwide at only 25'000. They are found throughout Asia and Siberia. Japan, where it is not currently protected by law, is the only country to have reported a recent increase in numbers. They are usually between 1.2 to 1.9 meters from head to tail, with females weighing in at up to 140 kilos, and males up to 200 kilos. They live for up to 30 years and are primarily carnivorous, but adapt their diet on food availability to include berries, honey, nuts and insects.
Some population such as the one in Japan have also developed a plant-based diet. They are nocturnal and some populations hibernate though not all. Little is known about their breeding habits, but females usually give birth to two cubs, weighing around 220 grams, who will stay with their mother for the first year and a half. They are usually solitary. Asiatic Black bears are threatened by habitat loss due to logging and growing human settlements, as well as poaching. They are often considered a pest and can be killed by farmers protecting their crops and livestock. Education about this bear is needed to limit this type of conflict, exemplified by the European black bear's relatively successful coexistence with people.
They are priced as gourmet food, especially their paws and feet, and as an ingredient in Chinese medicine. It is the species that has been the most affected by demand for gall bladders and bile and it is believed that some farms in China still illegally capture or acquire wild bears to supplement their captive numbers. The lives of captive bears in bile farms is well documented and as attitudes in China are changing, it is hoped that the market for these product will diminish sufficiently to put an end to this trade. It is also thought that, like sloth bears, Asiatic black bears are used in bear baiting events in Pakistan. The sport is illegal, but still popular in remote areas, with huge sums of money exchanging hands on bets. It is illegal but so far enforcement is difficult.