Himalayan Brown Bear

About Himalayan Brown Bear:

• It is a large carnivore found in the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas. 
• Scientific Name: Ursus arctos isabellinus
• Distribution:
  • They are found in North-western and central Himalaya, 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. 
• Features:
  • It is the largest mammal in the region, males reaching up to 2.2 m (7 ft) long, while females are a little smaller.
  • The bears are omnivorous and hibernate in dens during the winter. 
  • It has thick fur which is most often sandy or reddish-brown in colour. 
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule I
  • CITES - Appendix I

 

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Q1) What is a Brown Bear?

The Brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a large bear species found across Eurasia and North America. In North America, the populations of Brown bears are called Grizzly bears, while the subspecies that inhabits the Kodiak Islands of Alaska is known as the Kodiak bear. It is one of the largest living terrestrial members of the order Carnivora, rivaled in size only by its closest relative, the Polar bear (Ursus maritimus ), which is much less variable in size and slightly bigger on average.

Source: Encroachment pushes Himalayan brown bears into Kashmir’s villages