Identifying Characteristics:
Large animals, weighing 80-180 kg (up to 200 kg in captivity). Asiatic black bears have a stout body, broad forehead, and round ears. They possess five toes on both front and hind feet; strong, sharp, curved claws; and walk plantigrade (on the soles of their feet). The hind feet are long with a heel, resembling human footprints. The coat is long, coarse, and jet black, with long hairs on the sides of the neck forming a mane. A pale yellow or dirty white V-shaped mark is present on the chest. The tail is very short, not visible beyond the fur.
Biology and Ecology:
In the wild, bears primarily consume vegetation such as chestnuts, figs, palm fruits, bananas, corn, bamboo shoots, and others. They also consume animals like fish, honey, bird eggs, and other animal flesh when available. Bears are omnivorous; in captivity, they consume various human foods. Bears live and are active mainly in old-growth forests, headwater forests, mixed forests, deciduous dipterocarp forests, and bamboo forests; they occasionally venture to fields near forests to forage. Bears do not build permanent nests, often resting in rock crevices or tree hollows; sometimes they break branches to create temporary resting nests on large trees. Bears are solitary, only forming pairs during mating season. The mother bear rears the young. Despite their bulky appearance, bears are agile, active, and good at climbing and swimming. They are fond of honey and young bees, often climbing tall trees to raid beehives in tree trunks for food.
Information about bear reproduction is limited. Bears give birth almost year-round (Lê Hiều Hào, 1973), with litters of 1-4 cubs, usually 2. Cubs live with their mothers for 1.5-2 years before leaving the group. Mother bears with cubs are often observed from September to November. Bears shed their fur in February-March.
Distribution:
- Within Vietnam: Lai Châu, Sơn La, Tuyên Quang, Nghệ An, Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên – Huế, Quảng Nam, Bình Định, Gia Lai, Kontum, Đắk Lăk, Lâm Đồng.
- Worldwide: From Afghanistan and eastern Pakistan to Japan, the Himalayas, Assam, Myanmar, northern Thailand, southern China, Laos, and Cambodia.
Value:
Valuable for scientific research aimed at understanding the species’ behavior and ecology in the wild. Also valued for ornamental purposes in zoos and parks when kept in captivity.
Status:
Prior to 1970, Asiatic black bears were abundant in mountainous regions within the country. Currently, due to intense hunting and the loss or degradation of forest areas, the wild population has declined and is at risk of extinction if not actively protected. Hunting and trading of Asiatic black bears remain very serious.
Classification:
EN A1c,d C1+2a
Conservation Measures:
Included in the Vietnam Red Book and group IB of Decree 32/NDCP (2006). Hunting bears in the wild is strictly prohibited, ensuring a safe habitat, especially in protected areas, for bears to live and develop. Breeding bears in semi-natural settings to contribute to the rapid recovery of wild populations and meet the medicinal needs of the population.