Search Results (9)

Approximately 17,000 bears undergo bile extraction in facilities across Asia for traditional medicines despite the availability of proven alternatives. Bears are confined to cages and bile harvested from the gallbladder via needle aspiration, implanted catheters, or transabdominal fistulas. Bile-extracted bears develop numerous detrimental conditions, including abnormal repetitive behaviors, emaciation, dental disease, cholecystitis, hernias, abscesses, and neoplasia. A high prevalence of aortic dilation, commonly seen with systemic hypertension, was reported in bile-extracted bears, and aortic aneurysm rupture/dissection was the third leading cause of death in a population of 600 formerly bile-extracted bears. A high incidence of renal disease, a common cause of systemic hypertension in other species, was also identified in this population. We hypothesized that renal disease was positively correlated with lesions of systemic hypertension in bile-extracted bears. Archived medical records, imaging, and samples from 180 formerly bile-extracted bears were analyzed. Hypertensive retinopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy, and aortic dilation were used as validated correlates of systemic hypertension. The majority (76.1%) of bears exhibited at least one systemic hypertension lesion, and 62.8% had two or more lesions. Left ventricular hypertrophy was most common, followed by aortic dilation/aneurysm. Lesions of systemic hypertension were positively correlated to renal disease parameters of serum creatinine and renal histopathology. Understanding the etiology of systemic hypertension in this population is critical due to consequent comorbidities and increasing numbers of bile-extracted bears finding their way to sanctuary. Full article

Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) are a large carnivore, widely distributed in East, South, and Southeast Asia. However, they have experienced dramatic population decline across this range due to various anthropogenic threats. The great demand for bear parts in the black market exposes this species to intense pressure of being poached and then illegally traded. Meanwhile, the continuous expansion of anthropogenic land use results in the sharpening of human–bear conflicts. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive search and collected information of the poaching, illegal trade, and human–bear conflict events related to Asiatic black bears reported in China during 2010–2020. By systematically searching judicial adjudicative documents and news reports, we identified 351 (64 poaching, 221 illegal trade, and 90 conflict) events across the country. The results showed that Southwest China was a hotspot across all categories (41, 149 and 40 events, respectively). Bear paws were the most common type of bear parts found in illegal trade (52.1%), and the most frequently reported human–bear conflict form was human injury from bear attacks (at least 52 people injured and another 7 killed). By determining the status of black bears being poached, traded, and their conflicts with humans in China, these results will provide important insights into the further research and conservation of this iconic species. Full article

Estimating the population density of vulnerable species, such as the elusive and nocturnal Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), is essential for wildlife conservation and management. We used camera traps and a Random Encounter Model (REM) to estimate the population density of U. thibetanus during the autumn and winter seasons in the Hindu Raj Mountains. We installed 23 camera traps from October to December 2020 and acquired 66 independent pictures of Asiatic black bears over 428 trap nights. Our results showed that the bears preferred lowland areas with the presence of Quercus spp. We estimated, using the REM, a population density of U. thibetanus of 1.875 (standard error = 0.185) per square kilometer, which is significantly higher than that in other habitats. Our results showed that during autumn and winter, the bear population density tends to concentrate at lower elevations. Forest cover showed a positive correlation with the rates of bear encounters unlike the Euclidean distance to human settlements, altitude, and aspect variables. The approaches used here are cost-effective for estimating the population density of rare and vulnerable species such as U. thibetanus, and can be used to estimate their population density in Pakistan. Population density estimation can identify areas where the bears live and human–bear conflicts occurred and use this information in future wildlife management plans. Full article

Our study assessed patterns of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus)–human conflicts within the Guthichaur rural municipality, Jumla, Nepal. Through semi-structured interviews with villagers, focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs), we gathered black bear–human conflict information from 2009 to 2019. We identified three primary types of black bear–human interactions: crop damage, livestock depredation, and human injuries. Of these, crop damage (77.03%) emerged as the most prevalent issue. Notably, peak occurrences were observed during autumn (September–October) typically between 9 PM and 3 AM. Livestock depredations were more frequent during nighttime in April–August, with cows/ox (70.12%) being the most depredated animal. Our data also revealed five recorded cases of black bear attacks on humans, which transpired from September to October, primarily in farmland areas in varying years. Despite a prevailing negative perception of bears, a notable level of support exists for their conservation efforts among local communities. Furthermore, these conflicts could be mitigated by reinforcing indigenous crop protection methods and implementing targeted mitigation strategies, as observed in other regions with successful black bear–human interaction management. Full article

Lameness in animals is a welfare concern as it can be an indicator of pain. A standardized bear lameness scale would significantly improve the ability of facilities that house bears to monitor, manage, and treat lameness in their animals. The Animals Asia bear rescue center in Vietnam holds over 180 rescued bears with varying health and mobility conditions as a result of the illegal bear bile trade, and a reliable lameness assessment system was needed. Bear locomotion includes a lumbering gait, which differs from domestic animal locomotion, necessitating the modification of domestic animal lameness scales, and a five-point lameness scale was developed. Professionals from various veterinary-related backgrounds scored bear lameness videos to assess interobserver reliability and the intraclass correlation coefficient indicated good to excellent reliability. A 15-min training video with examples of lameness and grades was provided before assessment. The lameness scale developed herein addresses the lack of a published lameness scale for bears, and, due to the similar locomotion of the genus, can be used on any bear species. This scale is a consistent and reliable tool for evaluating and documenting lameness in addition to monitoring response to treatment. It will benefit bear welfare by indirectly characterizing the level of pain a bear is experiencing due to lameness as well as serving to document trends in pain status. Full article

At the most basic level, the assessment of a species’ status involves knowing where it occurs. Determining the presence of rare species is difficult, and can be further confounded by the presence of a more common look-alike species. We investigated one of the few places in the world where three species of bears have been reported to co-occur at a fine scale: Balpakram National Park, Meghalaya, India. Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) are fairly common, and we sought to determine whether sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) and/or sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) also resided there. The local Garo language has words for three types of bears, and some local people reported the continued presence of a small type of bear, possibly the sun bear, but the probable extirpation of sloth bears. Because these bears look somewhat alike, local people and government forest officers could not provide convincing accounts of the presence of more than one species. We measured claw marks on climbed trees, a method used to differentiate sun bears from Asiatic black bears where both are known to occur; however, this method turned out to be unreliable for detecting sun bears where their presence was unknown because sun bear-sized marks are not distinguishable from juvenile black bears. We recommend targeted camera trapping near recent purported sightings of the other two bear species. Full article

Studying the spatial and temporal interactions between sympatric animal species is essential for understanding the mechanisms of interspecific coexistence. Both Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) and brown bears (Ursus arctos) inhabit northeastern China, but their spatial–temporal patterns and the mechanism of coexistence were unclear until now. Camera traps were set in Heilongjiang Taipinggou National Nature Reserve (TPGNR) from January 2017 to December 2017 to collect photos of the two sympatric bear species. The Pianka index, kernel density estimation, and the coefficient of overlap were used to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of the two sympatric species. Our findings indicated that the spatial overlap between Asiatic black bears and brown bears was low, as Asiatic black bears occupied higher elevations than brown bears. The two species’ temporal activity patterns were similar at sites where only one species existed, yet they were different at the co–occurrence sites. Asiatic black bears and brown bears are competitors in this area, but they can coexist by changing their daily activity patterns. Compared to brown bears, Asiatic black bears behaved more diurnally. Our study revealed distinct spatial and temporal differentiation within the two species in TPGNR, which can reduce interspecific competition and facilitate coexistence between them. Full article

In this study, we present first data concerning the morphological observations of the orbital region, eye tunics, upper and lower eyelids, superficial gland of the third eyelid with the third eyelid, and lacrimal gland in captive adult male Asiatic black bear. The following research methods were used in the work: the eyeball morphometry, the orbital region description, macroscopic description, morphometric and histological analysis of the eye tunics and selected the accessory organs of the eye (Fontana–Masson, hematoxylin & eosin (H&E), Methyl-green-pyronin Y (MGP Y), Movat pentachrome, and picro-Mallory trichrome) as well as histochemical examination (PAS, AB pH 1.0, AB pH 2.5, AB pH 2.5/PAS and HDI). The eyeball of the Asiatic black bear was a spherical shape, while the periorbita was funnel/conical-shaped and the eye socket was of the open type. The cornea was absent of the Bowman’s membrane similar to all domestic dogs and some wild dogs. There were palisades of Vogt in the corneal limbus epithelium similar to the Canidae. Degenerative choroidal tapetum lucidum similar to ranch mink (Mustelidae) has been found. The pupil was big and round in shape. The ciliary muscle, dilatator and sphincter muscle were well developed, similar to the pinnipeds. The lens was biconvex round, similar to the Canidae. The retina was composed similarly to the diurnal terrestrial carnivores. In both eyelids were observed very well-developed tarsal glands, ciliary glands and sebaceous glands. The orbital zone in the eyelids was characterized by lymphoid follicles, diffuse lymphocytes and specialized high endothelial venules. In the anterior palpebral margin of the upper eyelid, soft and short eyelashes were observed, while in the lower eyelids they were absent. The third eyelid was T-shaped and composed of the hyaline tissue, and it contained CALT, similar to that in Canidae. The superficial gland of the third eyelid was a multilobar alveolar branched complex with seromucous nature, while the lacrimal gland was also a multilobar acinar branched complex gland, but producing a mucous–serous secretion. The results of our research indicate that the features of the anatomy of the eye and orbital region in Asiatic black bear are also typical of the Ursidae family. Moreover, a detailed analysis of the morphological eye region may be useful in comparative studies and veterinary diagnostics in this bear species. Full article

Tree damage is one of the destructive behaviors of the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus G. (Baron) Cuvier, 1823), and this type of damage causes great economic loss to the forest. A survey about Himalayan white pine (Pinus wallichiana (A. B) Jacks, 1836) damages was conducted at Kaghan Valley, District Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Field surveys were carried out within five major sites of Kaghan Valley, including Manshi reserve forest, Kamal Bann reserve forest, Malkandi reserve forest, Noori Bichla reserve forest, and some Guzara forests. Line transects and diameter at breast height (DBH) methods were selected for data collection. Eighteen transects were placed in different sites of the valley. A total of (n = 201) affected trees were observed from eighteen transects, along with a total population of 1081 trees with the encounter rate (ER: 0.657) and the mean DBH is $\overline{x}$ = 71.97 cm. Among total damages, the most severe (n = 39: 19.4%) were fully damaged with a greater encounter rate. Bark stripping was made during the late winter season and used as foodstuff when natural food is limited in the area. In severe cases, the bear-stripped bark encircles from the entire tree trunk, which results in the drying of trees and, finally, falls. Among all five sites, Manshi reserve forest was greatly affected, where the highest number (n = 76) of tree damage, and (n = 21) the entire diameter of trunks were damaged. People of the study area claimed that the black bear causes great forest damage, as well as crop destruction that leads to high economic loss. Full article