The Asian black bear’s scientific name, Selenarctos thibetanus, literally
means "moon bear of Tibet". Also called the Tibetan black bear and
the Himalayan black bear, this sturdy and highly adaptable forest animal
can be found from the bases of eastern Asia’s coastal foothills up to 13,000
feet (4,000 m). It occurs in Iran, Afghanistan, and northern Pakistan,
east through the Himalayas, as far South as Bangladesh and Laos, North
throughout the Tibetan Plateau, Manchuria and other forested
areas in China. Populations of Asian Black bears are
also found on Formosa (Taiwan) and the Japanese islands of Honshu
and Shikoku. Until recently, it also occurred on the Japanese island
of Kyushu
Description
of the Moon Bear
It is called the moon bear because of the large , white crescent-shaped
mark appearing on its chest. The rest of the body fur is jet
black with a brown or tan muzzle and a whitish chin. The hair on
the neck and shoulders forms a thick, long manelike ruff. Individual
bears living in the South, such as in Eastern India’s Assam hills, have
shorter and thinner coats with less underwool (especially in winter) than
those living at higher altitudes or in more Northern regions. The
ears are large and set rather far apart on their big, roundish heads.
The short claws are very strong and quite useful in climbing trees. The moon bear is medium sized, averaging 55 to 65 inches
(140 to 165 cm) long. Average weights range from 200 to 255 pounds
(90 to 115 kg). A large male may measure 77 inches (195 cm) long
and weigh over 400 pounds (180 kg) when fat. Females normally are
slightly smaller.
Food
Habits of the Moon Bear
The Asian bear spends it day sleeping in a cave or hollow tree,
coming out at dusk to seek food, but in some areas they are active
during the day as well. In India and Tibet, these bears are carnivorous
and often kill sheep, goats, and cattle. They are said to be able
to take animals as large as adult buffalo’s by breaking their necks.
Moon bears also eat termites, beetle larvae, honey, fruits, nuts, berries,
and carrion. In the Indochina region they are frequently seen around
villages, feeding on grain in the fields. In Japan, because they are considered major economic pests,
the food habits of these black bears have been extensively studied.
Here, the moon bears subsist mostly on plant material throughout the year:
In spring, they forage for beechnuts and oak nuts that feel the previous
year and graze on fresh green shoots. In summer, they switch to wild
cherries, dogwood, and ants and other insects, and during fall, they
forge and fatten for winter on the new crops of beechnuts and acorns.
Denning
and Hibernation
Asian black bears in the southern parts of their range may sleep
for only short periods during the winter. Often they simply descend
to a lower, warmer elevation where they can find food and remain active
all winter. (However, pregnant females almost always den.)
In colder and more northern regions, the cycle of hibernation behavior
is well established. Hollow logs and trees are the bears preferred
denning sites, and they may remain asleep from November through late March
or early April. In Japan, hibernating sites are nearly always located
where deep snow will cover the den. An insulating winter snow cover
of more than 3 feet (1 m) is a key factor in the survival of Japanese Moon
bear.
