What kind of animal is a black bear? We will explain its characteristics, ecology, and habitat. Asiatic black bears are mainly found in Asia and have a very wide distribution, but their population is not stable and they are designated as an endangered species. I’ll give you an explanation.
What is Asiatic black bear? About basic status
Asiatic black bears are carnivores classified in the class Mammalia, carnivora, family Bear, genus Bear. The scientific name is Ursus thibetanus and the kanji is tsukiwakuma. Also known as the Asian black bear or the Himalayan bear. A list of basic information is below. The body length is 120-180cm and the weight is 50-120kg. Tail length 6 – 10.5cm.
| Japanese（和名） | ツキノワグマ |
| English（英名） | Asian black bear/Asiatic black bear/Himalayan black bear/Moon bear |
| scientific name(学名) | Ursus thibetanus |
| classification（分類） | Mammalia、Carnivora、 Ursidae、Ursus 哺乳綱、食肉目、クマ科、クマ属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | VULNERABLE |
| Length（体長） | 120 – 180cm |
| Weight（体重） | 50 – 120kg |
About classification
Asiatic black bears are classified into the following subspecies.
- Ursus thibetanus thibetanus – チベットツキノワグマ
- Ursus thibetanus formosanus – タイワンツキノワグマ
- Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus – バロチスタンツキノワグマ
- Ursus thibetanus japonicus – ニホンツキノワグマ
- Ursus thibetanus laniger – ヒマラヤツキノワグマ
- Ursus thibetanus mupinensis – シセンツキノワグマ
- Ursus thibetanus ussuricus – ウスリーツキノワグマ
About habitat
Its habitat is mainly Asia. It is distributed in India, Japan, China, Taiwan, and even Pakistan and Iran. Individual Asian black bears and brown bears often appear in the high mountains and forests where humans are active. Please note that the number of countries where hunting is prohibited is increasing.
① Global Distribution
Asiatic black bears (Ursus ursus) are found throughout Asia.
Japan
China
Korean Peninsula
Russian Far East
Himalayan Region (India, Nepal, etc.)
Northern Southeast Asia
② Habitat in Japan
● Honshu and Shikoku
Mountain forests
Beech and oak forests
May also be found in satoyama (village forests)
● Hokkaido
❌ Not found
(Hokkaido is home to brown bears)
👉 Japan’s Asiatic black bears are found only in Honshu and Shikoku.
③ Preferred Environment
Deciduous broadleaf forests
A mixture of coniferous and broadleaf forests
Areas near streams and rivers
Forests rich in food
👉 Prefers forests rich in acorns and nuts, in particular.
④ Altitude
Wide range from low to high mountains
Seasonal migration
Spring: Lowlands
Summer: Mid-mountain
Autumn: Fruitful areas
👉 They migrate in search of food.
⑤ Relationship with human settlements
In recent years, due to
Deforestation
Depopulation
Food shortages
they are more likely to appear in villages.
They may even come close to fields and settlements.
👉 They are not “an animal exclusive to the mountains.”
feature is? What kind of creature is it?
Asiatic black bears have black fur all over their bodies. Its most distinctive feature is the crescent-shaped or V-shaped white markings on its chest. Their eyes and ears are small, and they live mainly in forests, often moving to lower elevations during the winter. They also have a strong tendency to hibernate during the winter. They have no exclusive territory and can move around freely.
① Appearance
Body color: Black to dark brown
White crescent-shaped pattern (moon ring) on chest
Body length: Approximately 120-190 cm
Weight: 50-150 kg (males are larger)
👉 The pattern is the origin of its name.
② Physical abilities
Excellent at climbing trees
Fast runner (around 40 km/h)
Can also swim
Strong front legs for dexterity
👉 Better motor skills than they appear.
③ High intelligence
Good memory
Can remember where food is
Ability to learn danger
👉 Ability to judge situations.
④ Diet (omnivorous)
Mainly plants
Nuts, acorns
Fruit, wild vegetables
Also eats animal matter
Insects, fish
Small animals, carrion
👉 Diet changes with the seasons.
⑤ Personality Traits
Generally timid and cautious
Avoids conflict
Very dangerous when cornered
👉 Not an animal that actively attacks humans.
What is your personality like?
Asiatic black bears have a fear of humans and are very timid and cautious. Therefore, they do not often attack humans.
① Basically timid and cautious.
Dislikes human presence.
Sensitive to sounds and smells.
Naturally avoids humans.
👉 In the wild, “escape” is their basic strategy.
② Solitary and self-paced.
Does not form groups.
Has its own home range.
Keeps distance from other individuals.
👉 Quiet, solitary creatures.
③ Curious.
Shows interest in new smells and foods.
However, check carefully.
May also be attracted to crops in human settlements.
👉 A combination of timidity and curiosity.
④ High learning ability.
Learns “where there is food.”
Remembers dangerous experiences.
Becomes less wary once accustomed to humans.
👉 This leads to village visits.
⑤ Conditions that lead to aggressive behavior.
When startled by a sudden encounter.
A mother bear protecting her cubs.
When there is no escape route.
When food is in danger.
👉 Attacks as a defensive reaction.
⑥ There are large individual and situational differences.
Gentle individuals
Nervous individuals
Dangerously tame individuals
👉 Personality changes depending on the environment.
What is the ecology like?
Asiatic black bears subsist on the fruits and buds of plants such as acorns and beech, small vertebrates, insects, invertebrates, and animal carcasses. The mode of reproduction is viviparous. The population breeds from June to October. They give birth to two young, and the lactation period is about 3 months. Lifespan is about 20 years.
① Activity Period
Mainly diurnal to crepuscular
Active in the morning and evening
May become more nocturnal in populated areas
👉 Flexible in changing their daily routine to avoid humans.
② Behavior
Generally solitary
Males and females are largely separate except during breeding season
Home ranges are wide, sometimes spanning several tens of kilometers
③ Diet (Varies significantly with the seasons)
Omnivorous, but primarily plant-based
Spring: New shoots, wild vegetables, and grasses
Summer: Fruits, insects, ants, and wasp nests
Autumn: Acorns and chestnuts (most important)
When scarce: Fish, small animals, carrion, and crops
👉 Having a sufficient diet in autumn can mean the difference between life and death.
④ Tree Climbing and Foraging
Excellent tree climbing skills
Eats fruit from trees
May break off branches and drop them to the ground (bear dens)
👉 Leaves traces in the forest
⑤ Hibernation
November to March
Hibernates in dens, tree holes, or rock caves
Does not sleep completely
Birth occurs during hibernation (females)
👉 Raising begins during hibernation.
⑥ Breeding
Mating Season: Early Summer
Delayed Implantation
(Under poor conditions, pregnancy is not possible)
Birth: 1-2 cubs (rarely 3)
Cubs remain in the den until spring
⑦ Lifespan
Wild: Approximately 20-25 years
Captive: Can live nearly 30 years
Are there any natural enemies?
Asiatic black bears are one of the largest mammals, so they have no natural enemies.
About Asiatic Black Bear Cubs
The most distinctive feature of Asiatic black bear cubs (cubs) is that they are very small and helpless at birth, but grow up protected by a strong bond with their mother.
① Immediately after birth
Birth: During hibernation (January-February)
Body length: Approximately 20cm
Weight: Approximately 300g (lighter than a plastic bottle)
Eyes are closed
Her fur is thin and her teeth are underdeveloped
👉 They are surprisingly small for such a large animal.
② Growth in the den
Completely dependent on breast milk
Protected by the mother’s body heat and milk
The mother is awake and nursing even during hibernation.
👉 Hibernation does not mean complete sleep.
③ Spring (2-3 months old)
Eyes open
Fur grows in
Starts walking
Starts leaving the den
👉 Begins to resemble a “bear.”
④ Mother-Cub Life
Cubs stay with their mother for about 1-2 years.
They learn how to forage and avoid danger.
Mothers are very aggressive in protecting their cubs.
👉 Most human accidents involve mothers and cubs.
⑤ Sibling Relationships
Litter Size: 1-2 (Rarely 3)
Siblings Grow Together Playfully
There is competition, but killing is rare.
⑥ Independence
They leave their mothers between 1.5 and 2 years of age.
Males Disperse Longer
Females May Remain Near Their Mother’s Range
Is the Asian black bear an endangered species?
Asiatic black bears are animals that are easily hunted or retaliated against by humans because they can cause direct damage to crops, beekeeping, and humans themselves, and because their gallbladders are used for medicinal purposes. The subspecies Balochistan black bear is listed on CITES Appendix I. Japanese black bears are on the decline, and may even become extinct in some areas. In Japan, if you check the research materials, it seems that the number of consultations about encounters with bears is increasing.
Global Assessment (IUCN)
Assessment: LC (Least Concern)
Target: All Asian black bears
Widely distributed, including China, Russia, and Southeast Asia
👉 At the global level, they are not facing imminent extinction.
● Japan as a whole
The Ministry of the Environment’s Red List assesses them differently depending on the regional population.
● Areas at high risk of extinction
Asiatic black bears in Shikoku
🟥 Critically Endangered
Estimated population size is extremely low
Most endangered in Japan
● Areas experiencing decline or instability
Kii Peninsula (southern Kinki region)
🟧 Vulnerable or Near Threatened
Severe habitat fragmentation
● Relatively stable areas
Tohoku and Chubu mountainous regions
Relatively large population
However, large annual fluctuations
Can Asiatic black bears be kept as pets?
Asian black bears are not suitable as pets. It is not suitable for amateurs as it can cause harm to surrounding humans and livestock. Events are held at the zoo, and you can often see them with a guide. Check out the latest information about the zoo on the site map from the menu on the homepage.
① Legally Prohibited (Japan)
Asiatic black bears are classified as wild animals and large dangerous animals.
In Japan, under the Animal Welfare and Management Act, Wildlife Protection and Management Act, and prefectural ordinances,
👉 individuals are prohibited from keeping them as pets.
Keeping them is permitted only in facilities with special permits and equipment, such as
zoos, shelters, and research institutions.
② Safety Issues
Adults weigh around 100 kg.
Excellent running, climbing, and swimming abilities.
Extremely powerful bite and arm strength.
Unpredictable behavior.
👉 Uncontrollable at home, no matter how small they are raised.
③ Personality and Instinct Issues
Basically timid, but with a strong defensive response.
They will switch to attacking when startled.
Even when accustomed to humans, their “wild instincts” do not disappear.
👉 They are not domesticated animals like dogs or cats.
- Environmental Issues
Large exercise space required
A sturdy cage with double doors is essential
Measures to prevent tree climbing and digging are required
Food and medical costs are extremely high
👉 Physically impossible in an average household.
コメント