Himalayan Black Bear

28-11-2023

12:01 PM

timer
1 min read
Himalayan Black Bear Blog Image

Overview:

An animal keeper died after being attacked by a Himalayan black bear in the animal’s enclosure at Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) recently.

About Himalayan Black Bear

  • It is a subspecies of the Asian black bear.
  • Scientific Name: Ursus thibetanus laniger
  • Distribution:
    • They live a lot in the Himalayas, in Tibet, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and China.
    • In India, they are found throughout the Himalayas, from Jammu & Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, and in hilly regions of other north- eastern states.
  • Habitat:
    • The species prefers heavily forested, broadleaved, and coniferous forests as habitat.
    • It uses orchards, agricultural fields, and human habitation to move between forest patches.
  • Features:
    • It has soft and shiny hair, with a white V patch on their chest. 
    • On average, they range from 1.4 to 1.7 metres in length and weigh from 90 to 200 kg (the higher figure only likely just prior to hibernation). 
    • Life span: 25 to 30 years in the wild.
    • Food: They are omnivorous creatures (like most bears). Their diet consists of acorns, nuts, fruit, honey, roots, and various insects such as termites and beetle larvae.
    • Behaviour: Naturally diurnal but many are largely nocturnal in order to avoid contact with humans.
    • Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable 

Q1) What are nocturnal animals?

Nocturnal animals are animals that are active during the night and sleep during the day. Animals that are active during the day and sleep at night, are known as diurnal - the opposite of nocturnal.

Source: Animal keeper dies after being attacked by Himalayan black bear at Visakhapatnam zoo