Himalayan black bear
Himalayan black bear | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Carnivora |
Family: | Ursidae |
Genus: | Ursus |
Species: | |
Subspecies: | U. t. laniger
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Trinomial name | |
Ursus thibetanus laniger Pocock, 1932
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Synonyms | |
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Description
The Himalayan black bear (Ursus thibetanus laniger) is a subspecies of the
The Himalayan black bear is typically nocturnal and elusive, although it has been observed during the day.[8] It hibernates throughout the winter in the northwestern Himalayas, while it is usually active during the entire year in the eastern Himalayas.
Distribution and habitat
The species' fossilized remains were discovered in Germany and France, but currently, it only exists in Asia, mainly confined in the Himalayas of India, Bhutan, Nepal, China, and Pakistan. During the summer, black bears can be found in warmer areas in Nepal, China, Bhutan, India and Tibet up near the timberline. The species prefers moist temperate forest mixed with deciduous broad-leaved forest, and mixture of oak, and thick dense under layer of shrubby vegetation between 1500 m to 3000 m elevation, and subtropical pine forest between 900 m to 1700 m elevation.[9] For winter, they descend as low as 5,000 feet (1,500 metres), to more tropical forests. The species might with the distribution of U. t. thibetanus across Myanmar and northeast India to possibly Nepal in the Himalayan range.[10]
Behavior and ecology
Diet
Several authors reported that the bear shifts their habitats following a change in food abundance, i.e., the seasonal migration of bears at different altitudes change with the food availability. They are
In spring black bear nourishes itself by using juicy flora; following summer it takes insects, fruits, and different vegetation while in autumn it feeds on nuts and acorns, simultaneously taking a high ratio of meat. During autumn, it moves and covers a long distance to explore food for survival just before the hibernation when food requirements increase, resulting in high conflict by the end of autumn.It is physiologically adapted for arboreal feeding, with its relatively heavy front quarters and short curved claws providing support for its frugivorous feeding habits (Mattson 1998). The species mainly ate soft mast (e.g., Prunus spp., Rubus spp., Machilus spp. and Ziziphus spina-christi), hard mast (e. g. Quercus spp., Pinus spp., Fagus spp. and Juglans spp.), green vegetation, crops (such as maize, millet and potato), cultivated fruits (date palm, pear, banana, papaya, apple and peach), mammals and insects.
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.[7]
Status, threats and future conservation implications
This subspecies is listed as 'vulnerable' due to encroachment of human population,
Over the last thirty years, the world black bear population has declined by 30–40% and it is predicted that the same rate will continue for the next thirty years unless effective conservation measures are implemented.[11] Habitat fragmentation, habitat loss and destruction, conversion of bear habitat into agricultural land as well as other anthropogenic pressures are significantly influencing the black bear population and its habitat [12] Climate change is predicted to cause a shift in the existing suitable area or increase the suitable area for the Asiatic black bears, leading to disturbances in habitat connectivity.
Therefore, it is necessary to establish climate refugia and corridors that can enhance connectivity between countries and facilitate the dispersal of bear populations. Research suggests that more than 70% of suitable habitat in the Himalyan Black Bear habitat will remain as climate refugia in the future, but a reduction of more than 25% in suitable habitat could be challenging, especially in cases of transboundary bear populations.[8] Various conservation agencies of Himalayan black bear countries can facilitate to work together and develop corridors to enhance connectivity between them. The protection and management of selected hotspot areas with significant intact habitat can also provide more area and facilitate dispersal among populations, leading to an increase in the chances of gene flow that results in genetic diversity and an increase in population size of the species. Current nature reserves/protected areas should be upgraded by connecting adjacent suitable habitats. In countries with low bear populations, such as Nepal and Bangladesh, the reduction in suitable habitat could be most severe.[8] Thus, establishing movement corridors between these protected areas is a key means for helping to conserve this species.
References
- ^ "Hinalayan black bear report" (PDF). ancardchula.gov.np. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
- ^ "Bears - WWF-India". wwfindia.org. Archived from the original on 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
- ^ Pocock, R. I. (1932). "The Black and Brown Bears of Europe and Asia: Part II". The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 36 (1): 115–116. Archived from the original on 2017-08-05. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
- ^ Pocock, R. I. (1941). "The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma". Mammalia. 2. London: Taylor and Francis.
- ISSN 1537-6176.
- ISSN 1903-220X.
- ^ a b c d Bears Of The World. "Himalayan Black Bear". Bears Of The World. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ S2CID 235508703.
- ISSN 0030-9923.
- PMID 30517155.
- ISSN 0022-541X.
- ISSN 2165-8005.
External links
- Himalayan black bear versus Bengal tiger at Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan