About Himalayan Brown Bear:
- It is the largest mammal found in the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas.
- It is one of the most ancient brown bear lineages.
- Scientific Name: Ursus arctos isabellinus
- It is also known as the “Himalayan Red Bear” and the “Isabelline Bear”. It is known as Denmo in the Ladakhi language.
- Distribution:
- They are found in northwestern and central Himalayas, including Pakistan, India, Nepal, the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China, and Bhutan.
- They are found above the timberline, between 3,000 and 5,500 meters (9,800 and 18,000 feet) above sea level.
- In India, this species exists in small isolated populations in the fragmented alpine and subalpine habitats of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
- It is believed by some that the bear’s ability to walk upright probably gave rise to the legend of the Yeti or “Abominable Snowman.”
- Features:
- Males are larger than females, with an average length of 1.9 m and weight of 135 kg, in comparison to the female averages of 1.6 m and 70 kg.
- It has thick fur which is most often sandy or reddish-brown in colour.
- Food: Omnivorous, eating grasses, roots, bulbs and other plants, insects, and small mammals such as marmots, pikas, and voles.
- They hibernate in dens during the winter.
- They are solitary and only interact with each other to mate or fight over mates. The only exception to this is a mother and her cubs.
- Life span: 20 to 30 years in the wild.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
- Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule I
- CITES – Appendix I.
