Ussuri black bear

The Ussuri black bear (Ursus thibetanus ussuricus), also known as the Manchurian black bear, is a large subspecies of the Asian black bear native to the Russian Far East, Northeast China and the Korean Peninsula. The subspecies is named after the Ussuri River. It is the largest subspecies of the Asiatic black bear.

Taxonomy

Ussuri black bear is a subspecies of Asian black bear.<ref name="Wu 2015">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Denning2003">Template:Cite journal</ref> The subspecies is named after the Ussuri River.<ref name="HeptnerNaumov1998">Template:Cite book</ref> It is the largest subspecies of the Asiatic black bear.<ref name="Info">Template:Cite web</ref>

Distribution and habitat

The Ussuri black bear is native to the Russian Far East, Northeast China and the Korean Peninsula.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> It is present in Southern Siberia in Russia, northeastern China, and mountains in the Korean peninsula. Its habitats include broad-leaved forests in Russia and coniferous forests in northeast. It is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN.<ref name="Info"/> The bears are affected by habitat loss, and poaching for their internal organs such as gall bladder and bile. South Korea designated the subspecies as a natural monument species in 1982 and as an endangered species in 2005. It is also protected under the National Protection Wildlife Law in China.<ref name="Info"/>

Morphology

The Ussuri black bears have a black fur with a white colored collar. Males typically weigh up to Template:Cvt, with females weighing up to Template:Cvt.<ref name="Info"/> Males measure about Template:Cvt in length. It has thinner and shorter limbs, with the powerful hind legs. It has a smaller head with an elongated snout, powerful jaws, and larger ears compared to the other subspecies. The fur is thinner in summer, and becomes thicker in winter.<ref name="HeptnerNaumov1998"/>

Behaviour

The Ussuri black bears have a life expectancy of 20 to 25 years in the wild. It can live up to 30 years in captivity. They are omnivorous and feed on a variety of food. The bears food include fruits and nuts, grains, small insects such as termites, eggs of birds, honey, and small invertebrates. They also feed on carrion left behind by other animals.<ref name="Info"/> Sympatric predators of the black bear include the Ussuri brown bear and Siberian tiger.<ref name="HeptnerNaumov1998"/><ref name="Denning2003"/>

They have been found to be usually nocturnal near human habitations, while being active during the day in other areas. During the day, they often spend time on short trees, or rock platforms. They are known to be aggressive when confronted by humans. They live a solitary life except during the time of mating.<ref name="Info"/> The mating season occurs in June and July and the bear often produces a litter with a maximum of four cubs. Cubs are weaned off after eighteen months. It spends the winter months hibernating in dens.<ref name="Info"/>