Recently, a new study revealed that the Kashmir Valley has bucked the trend of Asiatic black attacks on humans rarely reported throughout the animal’s global range.

About Asiatic black bear

• The Asiatic black bear is known as the Moon bear.
• The Asiatic black bear has 7 subspecies, out of which we find the Himalayan Black Bear subspecies in India.
• Features: The Asiatic Black Bear has a coat of smooth black fur and can be distinguished by a V of white fur on its chest.
• Range: The Asiatic black bear lives in a narrow band stretching from south-eastern Iran to Myanmar, across the Himalayan foothills.
• In India, it is found in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, and the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The Asiatic black bear is omnivorous.

Conservation status

• • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wild Life Protection Act 1972: Schedule II