Asiatic Black Bear

The Kashmir Valley has bucked the trend of Asiatic black attacks on humans rarely reported throughout the animal’s global range.

• Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is also as Moon bear.
• The Asiatic black bear has 7 subspecies, out of which we find the Himalayan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus laniger) 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.

• Distribution – The Asiatic black bear occupies a narrow band from south-eastern Iran to Myanmar, across the foothills of the Himalayas.
• In India – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, and the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
• Diet – Omnivorous. Mainly comprises of fruits.
• Threats – Hunting, poaching, habitat loss and climate change.
• In Kashmir Valley, the conversion of the bear’s natural habitat to orchards and farmlands is a major threat.

Conservation