Himalayan bear - description, habitat, lifestyle

Bears inspire fear, their external data only scream about it. In today's article, we will study the next representative of the family. It is called the Himalayan. As the name implies, the habitat captures the Himalayas and surrounding areas. Some call these bears white breasts, because they have a corresponding mark in the front. Let's study everything about these animals so that you can make your own opinion.

Habitat

1. To a greater extent, individuals of the represented family are dispersed throughout the Himalayas. They are also located in Korea, China in the northeast, India in the north. Meet this species in Japan, as well as in the Far East. These individuals like to live in larch and mixed stripes. They can live in deserts and highlands. Sometimes they rise 3.5 km. up. In the winter, they go down to the mark of 1.5 km.
2. Individuals of the family under discussion live in the foothills near Pakistan, Manyama and India. They occupy most of Asia, are not found except in Malaysia and Central China. However, the distribution area is gradually expanding. In the Far East are located to the south. There are individuals in North Korea, but most of them in the southern part of the country. In Japan, white breasts live near the Shikoku and Honshu islands.
3. As for the number of goals, it’s hard to say for sure how many animals exist. Based on information received from Japanese experts, about 10 thousand individuals are present at Honshu. However, official data on the exact numbers are not available. On the expanses of our homeland there are about 6 thousand more animals, in 2012 there was a surge, 15 thousand were recorded. In Pakistan, about 1 thousand, in India - about 8 thousand.

Description

1. In their external characteristics, representatives of the family are somewhat similar to prehistoric bears. If we proceed from these scientists, then these individuals are the ancestors of the rest of themselves. Exceptions are spectacle bears and pandas. These individuals are herbivores, but can show aggression to humans or those who threaten life.
2. Animals are distinguished by pigmentation of the muzzle. It can be pure black, like coal, or brownish. There are also animals with whitish blotches in the chin area. The chest has a bleached whitish speck that resembles a wedge in format. The ears are huge, stick out, similar to a bell.
3. The tail extends up to 10 cm or more in length, depending on the individual. In the shoulders, the animal grows to 0.8 m on average. In terms of height, its indicators fluctuate between 1.3-1.8 m. Again, this directly depends on age and gender. As for the mass, it is 70-190 kg. in males and about 50-140 kg. in females. But the average for two genders is 120 kg.
4. These bears can be compared with brown ones, but they look smaller and slimmer. Also, the body is famous for its lightness, and habits look ridiculous and even funny. The limbs are refined. The nose is very mobile, as are the lips. However, do not confuse the cute appearance with kindness. These are tough and dangerous animals that attack even buffaloes.
5. The head can not be called huge, it is rather average in overall characteristics. Massive, especially this quality is manifested in the chin area. Animals for the most part are classified as herbivores. However, the skull is powerful, the teeth are strong, the grip is strong, which allows them to beat the enemy easily. Narrowed eyebrows, strong and thick temples.
6. If we compare the data of representatives of the family, for example, with black American individuals, the latter are much larger. However, some male animals may outgrow cousins. This is a rarity, not a constancy. The sense of smell, touch, vision and other sensory organs in white breasts are more developed.
7. The individuals of the breed group under discussion have a remarkable limb structure. The front ones are very strong. Therefore, when an individual damages its rear, it can still climb along the trunk into a tree, wielding exclusively with front limbs. The top of the hull is more developed, since the bears use it during an active pastime. There are huge claws on the paws, especially on the front. They help animals dig the ground and climb up.

Lifestyle

1. These representatives of the family are characterized by wakefulness during the day. However, some prefer to earn food in the evening or at night, hanging around near farmland and human dwellings. They prefer to live in families. Sometimes combined into small groups.
2. These animals are considered to be born climbers. They easily climb into the mountains to relax, get food or hide from enemies. Approximately 15% of the time of the total duration of existence of these individuals are on trees. They use twigs to ennoble their place of existence.
3. A distinctive feature is that this species does not hibernate for too long. Animals begin to prepare a den around the middle of the autumn season. At the end of the season they fall asleep, wake up in early spring. Minks in the inner part are ennobled by branches. The den is located, as a rule, on sunlit slopes, in mountainous areas, caves, pits, hollows.
4. These animals have a well-developed hearing aid. They crush even the most seemingly quiet sounds. They also know how to talk, imitating other animals. For example, growl, grunt, squeak, cry, whine and even champ.
5. They can make sounds that are different from the rest when they are worried or sad. Animals begin to hiss when threatened, during fights they shout very loudly. When the self-similar ones approach, the bears click their tongue and give signals that resemble a frog croaking. As for the duration of existence, on average individuals live 23 years. However, the record at 44 years old was recorded for a long time.

Diet

1. It is noteworthy that the considered individuals prefer food of plant origin more than brown bears. However, the animals presented are more predatory, unlike the American black relatives.
2. If we compare the Himalayan bears with pandas, the former are not as dependent on low-calorie food as the latter. The rest of the discussed individuals are omnivorous and it is practically not important for them what to eat.
3. In addition, Himalayan animals in most cases give preference to high-calorie food, because it will require significantly less. Such bears are accustomed to plenty of food to put aside stock in the fatty layers.
4. Only after such actions can wild animals go to sleep with a calm soul. Often, bears do this at a time when food is running out. When food shortages occur, animals begin to roam along the rivers. In this area, they can enjoy hazelnuts, insects and larvae.
5. It is noteworthy that the animals in question are omnivorous, and they simply seek to satisfy their hunger with any food that they may encounter. Such bears also eat beetles, termites, bees, carrion, mushrooms, flowers, herbs, berries, fruits and seeds.
6. From mid-spring to mid-summer, the presented individuals mainly include plant-based foods in their diet. Fruits also belong to it.From mid-summer to early spring, bears climb trees.
7. On them they collect various berries, vine and cones. Otherwise, such products are only a small part of the main menu. As mentioned earlier, the presented individuals are quite predatory, so sometimes they even attack artiodactyls.
8. Often recorded attacks on livestock. And this happens regularly. As for wildlife, bears prey on wild boars, deer, and even adult buffalo. The presented individuals simply break the victim’s neck.

Breeding

1. In the habitual habitat, the mating season in such animals occurs in mid-summer. After mating, babies are born around January. Females reach puberty by about 3 years. After giving birth, the animal takes a break for 2-3 years. During this period, the body recovers.
2. Of the total number of individuals represented, pregnant females account for about 15%. Before birth, animals equip their homes in hollows of trees and caves. Babies can be born both in winter and in spring. The period of gestation takes about 8 months.
3. Already on the 3rd day after the birth, young growth opens its eyes. On the next day, the cubs are able to move independently. It is noteworthy that young animals grow very slowly. A completely independent lifestyle offspring begins to lead only to 2.5 years.

Enemies

1. Interestingly, Asian bears often attack brown relatives and even tigers. In addition, the presented individuals are constantly at odds with schools of wolves and leopards. The greatest danger to bears is the Eurasian lynx. This is the worst enemy of the considered individuals.
2. In addition, black individuals often show superiority over Far Eastern leopards. Only this dominance occurs in dense vegetation. In open areas, wild cats are stronger than such bears. It is interesting that leopards try to hunt precisely the cubs of bears, which are less than 2 years old.
3. It is noteworthy that tigers also sometimes prey on the young of the individuals in question. To at least somehow escape from their pursuers, the bears try to climb high on trees. The victim waits for a while until the tiger is tired of waiting. As a result, the wild cat leaves. Only adult bears can resist tigers.
4. Black bears move into a safe area at about 5 years of age. In this case, they can fully fight with their enemies. It is worth noting that the individuals in question are brave fighters, and they never give up. Even a wounded bear can chase its offender to take revenge.

The problem is that such unusual predators are gradually dying out. For the most part, this is due to massive deforestation. In addition, poachers from valuable parts of the body and skin prey on the presented individuals. Currently, the bears are under protection, they are trying to save their appearance.

Video: Himalayan bear (Ursus thibetanus)