Asiatic black bear

Ben: Male, born August 10, 1994 at Natural Bridge Zoological Park in Virginia. He arrived at the Zoo on April 2, 2002.

Viewing Hints

You can discover our Asiatic black bear in Bear Country just across from the flamingos.

Where to find me in the Zoo

Bear Country

Fun Facts

• Extremely intelligent, they have a large vocabulary and use a variety of clucking, 'tut-tut-tut' and huffing sounds. Females are more vocal than males.
• They are fantastic climbers and can often times be found resting in trees. Their curved, hook-like claws and strong slightly bowed front legs enable them to climb with ease.

Ask an Expert

Asiatic black bears typically do not hibernate in the winter, but become sporadically dormant during the blizzard seasons. There are very few natural predators that effect the Asiatic black bear. Amur tigers and man are the primary threats.

Longevity

In zoos, Asiatic black bears may have a life expectancy of 30 years.

Behavior

Asiatic Black Bears are omnivorous and will eat things like termites, acorns, tree sap, invertebrates, carrion, fish and fruit. While foraging for acorns they will construct roughly built nests in the crook of trees to sunbathe and rest.

Reproduction

Courtship and breeding occur from April to June. Courtship rituals include "clucking" and mock fighting between the male and female. Gestation is 6-8 months. One to two cubs are the typical litter size. The young stay with the female up to 2 years. Babies weigh about .5 pound (233 grams). The cubs eyes open in about 1 week. Females are mature at 3 years of age.

Size

They can be up to 74.8 inches (190 cm) long.

Weight

Weight range is from 220-440 pounds (100-200kg).

Diet

Asiatic black bears are considered omnivorous (eat both meat and plants); however, their diet in the wild is primarily vegetarian. These bears have very different diets based on the time of year. In the fall they eat a diet of mostly nuts – high in fat. In the spring the bears consume a variety of berries, bamboo, hydrangea and other plants. During the summer the bears continue to eat a variety of plant material but have also been seen consuming ants as well as carrion. At the Zoo the bears are offered a commercial omnivore bear biscuit as well as a variety of fruit and vegetables.

Geographic Range

South East Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, Himalayas, North/South Korea, Nepal, Bangladesh, Russia, China and the Tibetan Plateau. Inhabiting mountain and hardwood forest areas. They may be found at elevations of 9,842- 16,404 feet (3,000-5,000 meters).