Himalayan Brown Bear

Himalayan Brown Bear Latest News

A rare sighting of a Himalayan brown bear, reportedly with its family, in the Nelong and Jadung Valleys has sparked excitement within Gangotri National Park, Uttarakhand.

About Himalayan Brown Bear

• It is the largest mammal found in the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas. 
• It is one of the most ancient brown bear lineages. 
• Scientific Name: Ursus arctos isabellinus
• It is also known as the “Himalayan Red Bear” and the “Isabelline Bear”. It is known as Denmo in the Ladakhi language.
• It is believed by some that the bear’s ability to walk upright probably gave rise to the legend of the Yeti or “Abominable Snowman.” 

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Himalayan Brown Bear Distribution

• They are found in northwestern and central Himalayas, including Pakistan, India, Nepal, the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China, and Bhutan. 
• They are found above the timberline, between 3,000 and 5,500 meters (9,800 and 18,000 feet) above sea level.
• In India, this species exists in small isolated populations in the fragmented alpine and subalpine habitats of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. 

Himalayan Brown Bear Features

• Males are larger than females, with an average length of 1.9 m and weight of 135 kg, in comparison to the female averages of 1.6 m and 70 kg. 
• It has thick fur which is most often sandy or reddish-brown in colour. 
• Food: Omnivorous, eating grasses, roots, bulbs and other plants, insects, and small mammals such as marmots, pikas, and voles. 
• They hibernate in dens during the winter. 
• They are solitary and only interact with each other to mate or fight over mates. The only exception to this is a mother and her cubs.
• Life span: 20 to 30 years in the wild.

Himalayan Brown Bear Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
• Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule I
• CITES – Appendix I

Source: NIE