Asiatic Black Bear - Ursus thibetanus Moon Bear Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre Luang Prabang Laos

            Asiatic Black bear - Ursus thibetanus
The Asiatic Black Bear, also known as the Moon Bear, is a medium sized bear with a body length of 140 to 165 centimetres and most weigh between 90 and 150 kg. They are normally black in colour, with lighter muzzles and a distinct V-shaped patch of cream or white coloured fur on the chest. This bear has a heavy, stocky body and the ears are large and set far apart
As with other bears, the Asiatic Black Bear likes to eat meat, but they will also eat plants, berries, insects, fruit and honey. Overall, the Asiatic Black Bear will eat anything that is edible! In autumn, they frequent nut-producing trees where they eat in self-constructed leaf and branch nests or platforms.
Asiatic Black Bears inhabit eastern Asia, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Iran, Japan, Korea, Lao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Taiwan and Vietnam. They prefer thickly forested areas in the hills and mountains and tropical forests below alpine levels. During summer, the bears may reach altitudes of 1,000 feet. Their territory ranges from 4 to 6 square miles and depends on food supplies.
Female Asiatic Black bears become sexually mature at about 4 years of age. While little is known about these bears in the wild, it is believed breeding takes place over a one to two day period in late April to early June. In captivity, cubs are born in December or January. Cubs are weaned at about six months of age but may remain with the mother for up to three years.

Threats to Survival:  The Asiatic Black Bear has been hunted for centuries for its skin, paws, and the gall bladder. The bears are captured and milked for bile that is then used in Traditional Asian Medicine. Recent deforestation across the Asian continent is another major threat to the survival of the species. Logging, development, and the ever- encroaching human population 

Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre was established by Free The Bears Fund Inc. in 2003 after local authorities confiscated three bear cubs and asked for assistance to help look after them.  The rescue centre has continued to provide care for these bears and also accepted further bears that have been confiscated by the Lao authorities.  Most of the bears at the centre are Asiatic Black Bears (Moon Bears) that were illegally captured from the wild as young cubs – it is likely that they were destined for use in the traditional medicine trade such as extracting bear bile.
   

Taken in: Laos / Louangphabang / Louangphrabang (show map)

Taken on: November 19, 2012

Tags:

Asia

South East Asia

Luang Prabang

Asiatic Black Bear

moon bear

Ursus thibetanus

Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre

survival

animal

fur

at risk

bile

traditional medicine

eriagn

Ngaire Lawson

Ngaire Hart

travel

documentary

social documentary

wildlife

nature

bear

Louangphrabang

claws

paw « less

Sets appears in: • Wildlife • Bears more » • Most Viewed Images 10,000 or more • Panorama • Myanmar/Laos • Laos « less

Groups appears in: • BEARS of the WORLD • Tall Tails of Animals more » • 10,000 Views Unlimited 10000 « less

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, f/5.6, 1/80 sec, 300mm, ISO 3200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Lens:	70.0-300.0 mm
Aperture:	f/5.6
Exposure Time:	0.013 sec (1/80)
Focal Length:	300mm
ISO:	3200
Exposure Bias:	-1/3 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Mode:	Auto
White Balance:	Manual
Color Space:	sRGB
Show full info

Stats: 23,488 views / 9 comments

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: