Contents:

• Current Status
• Classification
• Description
• Behaviour
• Relationship with Man
• World Distribution
• Action taken
• Action required
• Organisations
• Pictures
• Comments
• Other websites
• References

Current Status

American Black Bear

Rating:	Vulnerable CITES: Appendix 2 since 1992 IUCN Red List: not listed
Population:	450 000 : estimate in 1989
Threats:	hunting and persecution pest-control poisons poaching for black market in bear parts

Asiatic/Himalayan Black Bear

Rating:	Endangered CITES: Appendix 1 since 1979 IUCN Red List: Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus - CR B1+2abc, C2a Ursus thibetanus - VU A1cd
Population:
Threats:	hunting and persecution poaching for black market in bear parts

Description

Classification

The black bears belong to the mammalian Order Carnivora, family Ursidae. There are two types worldwide:

• Ursus americanus (American Black Bear)
• Ursus thibetanus (Himalayan or Asiatic Black Bear)
• Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus - (Baluchistan Bear)

There are many other species of bear, but the black bears in particular have been targetted for black market trading.

Behaviour

Relationship with Man

World Distribution american - Canada, Mexico, USA asiatic - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Iran, Japan, Laos, Malaysia (?), Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Viet Nam IUCN - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Iran, Japan, Laos, Malaysia (?), Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Viet Nam gedrosianus - Iran, Pakistan

Organisations

Bear Specialist Group of IUCN

Pictures

Other websites

References