HIMALAYAN OR ASIATIC BLACK BEAR (Selenarctos thibetanus):

Distribution: The Asiatic black bear ranges from Pakistan through Nepal and Sikkim to Bhutan and into China, Southeast Asia and the Amur region of the USSR.

Distinctive characters: It is black in color and covered with long hairs. Length of large male ranges from 140-165 cm. Weight upto 400 lbs. Life span is 40 years. Carry its baby on the back. They have distinct whitish V shaped breast patch.

Habitat: Himalayan Black bear primarily occur in the upper subtropical and lower moist temperate zones. These inhabitants of steep forested hills and georges may range upto the tree line during summer, but rarely much spend time in the alpine zone. In the Arun valley, black bears inhabit Sal-Castanopsis, Castanopsis and Rhododendron forests as well as forests with bamboo groves.

Habit: The Himalayan Black bear is solitary and primarily nocturnal, although animals may be active in the late afternoon or early morning. They spend the daytime resting in rock caves, rock crevices, tree hollows or thick undergrowth. However, they tend to be somewhat crepuscular or somewhat diurnal where protected from human interference. Unlike the Brown bear, this species freely climbs trees in order to forage. It may use rest platforms in trees made of branches broken while feeding.

The black bear mates in late autumn; the toung generally two or more; are born in the winter and raised in maternal den.

The Himalayan Black bear is omnivorous, but requires relatively nutrient rich food sources. The diet varies with season consisting of grasses, buds and blossoms, acorns, other wild friuts and berries, crops, insects and meat.