Mammals
Asiatic Black Bear
Ursus thibetanus · also called moon bear, Asian black bear
High in an oak in a Himalayan forest, an Asiatic black bear bends branches into a platform and feeds on acorns, the pale crescent on its chest glowing like a moon.
Overview
The Asiatic black bear, Ursus thibetanus, is a Vulnerable bear of Asian forests and mountains, from Iran and the Himalayas through Southeast Asia to Japan and the Russian Far East. Its chest crescent, tree-climbing habits, and the pressure of the trade in bear parts make it one of the most recognisable and most threatened bears.
A bear of the treetops
Unlike many bears that stay on the ground, the Asiatic black bear spends much of its time in trees, feeding and resting on platforms it builds from broken branches.
Status
Vulnerable, with a decreasing population.
Asiatic Black Bear: common questions
Why is it called the moon bear?
It has a pale crescent or V-shaped patch on its chest that looks like a crescent moon.
Does the Asiatic black bear climb trees?
Yes, it is an excellent climber that climbs trees to feed on fruit and nuts and makes platform-like nests from broken branches.
Why is the Asiatic black bear vulnerable?
It has lost forest and is hunted for its gall bladder and other parts, and bears are kept on farms to extract bile in some countries.
Where is the Asiatic black bear found?
It lives in forest and mountains from Iran and the Himalayas through Southeast Asia to Japan and the Russian Far East.