- The Himalayan brown bear is a subspecies of the brown bear, native to the region in North-western and central Himalayas, including Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. It is a large bear with thick fur, usually sand-coloured or reddish-brown. Himalayan brown bears eat grasses, roots and other plants as well as insects and small mammals. They are diurnal and are usually solitary. The bears go into hibernation in a cave or dug-out den around October, emerging in April or May.
- While the brown bear as a species is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this subspecies is critically endangered. Overall, the population is in decline.
- Habitat loss and killing by livestock herders are a major threat for the bears. They are also poached for their fur and claws, used in the making of ornaments. Their body parts are used for medicine. In Pakistan, they face the additional threat of bear baiting, a sport where bears are pitted against other animals.
Picture Credit : Google
