Asiatic Black Bears - Conservation Status
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Picture source:
Getty Images © 1999-2003
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The Asiatic Black Bears are listed by the IUCN as critically endangered. Although they are under the protection of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates and restricts the trade of threatened plants and animals. The Asiatic Black Bear is highly prized on the black market and that it why it is constantly being hunted.
Additionally, it is a popular circus animal, and it remains a favored species for gall bladders and other bear parts used in traditional Asian medicine. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals rates this bear as vulnerable. Strict law enforcement is needed that will prevent the trade on international markets. Up to this time the Asiatic Black Bear is at high risk of extinction in the nearest future.
It is a well known fact that the products from wild Bears are sold in China. But, the government of China claims that captive breeding is successful, and Bear farms regularly restock the environment with wild Bears. It's hard to get any information about how many Bears are living in the wild in China.
In 1997, the Ministry of Forestry reported the number was 46,530. By the year 1999, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature estimated there were fewer than 20,000. The decline of Asiatic Black Bear populations in China has endangered other Bear species; wild Bears are being killed for parts throughout Asia, North America, and South America.
Asiatic Black Bears - Endangered Animals
The Asiatic Black Bears' range is composed of highly isolated areas of land that are still the subject to human intrusion. The deforestation process and human encroachment is a cause for the loss of habitat. Due to the threat that Asiatic Black Bears possess to livestock, farmers are also killing the Bears. Another reason that these animals are killed is because they have a habit of stripping valuable timber trees of bark and, thus, reducing the value of the trees.
What's more the Asiatic Black Bear has the unfortunate distinction of being the Bear species that is most required for Asian medicine. As Asians continue to use their organs for traditional medicine, especially their gall bladders, they will be hunted for them. Poachers have ravaged the Asiatic Black Bear population, which is now at a verge of extinction throughout most of its range. And Asiatic Black Bears are expected to disappear soon.
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Picture source:
Glasgow Zoo Park
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Asiatic Black Bears - Facts-Links
A Quick Guide to Asiatic Black Bears - Information about the wild bears, their distribution, habitat, pictures.
Acapworldwide - Summary about the Asiatic Black Bears.
All About Asiatic Black Bears - Thorough information about all the types of the Bears; including the Asiatic Black Bear.
All Asiatic Black Bears - Information about all the Bears including the Asiatic Black Bear.
All Asiatic Bears Info - Information about all the eight types of Bears.
Amazing Animals - This is the official website of the AZA's conservation subcommittee for the conservation of the Asiatic Black Bears. It provides information about the eight species of bears.
Americazoo - The facts about the Asiatic Black Bears.
Animal Discovery - Asiatic Black Bears and some other species of bears.
Animal Welfare Institute - Information about the wild Bears; animals kept in the zoos. Pictures.
Animalsasia - Asiatic Black Bears, their habitat, description, etc.
Animalsasia-Asiatic Black Bears - Rescue, Bear farming, Moon Bear, China Bear, Asiatic, Black Bear and other types of the Bears.
Arktofile Asiatic Black Bears - Information on the Asiatic Black Bears; their habitat, life span, diet, etc.
Asiatic Black Bear Trade FAQ - Questions and answers about the Bear trade.
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Picture source:
Ministry of Environment Republic of Korea © 2003
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Bearbiology - Thorough information about the Asiatic Black Bears: appearance, size, habitat, etc.
Asiatic Black Bears - Endangered Asiatic Black Bears.
Asiatic Black Bears in Wild - Some facts about the Asiatic Black Bears.
Asiatic Black Bears Research- Asiatic Black Bear research, conservation program.
Denverzoo - Denver Zoo is home to three species of bears including grizzly and Asiatic Black Bears.
Earthbears - Facts about the bears; their habits; their life span; distribution; behavior, etc.
Hensonrobinsonzoo - Distribution of the wild Bears.
India Wild Animals - The national parks in India. The Asiatic Black Bears and other wild animals.
Nationalzoo - Physical description, behavior, geographic distribution of the Asiatic Black Bears.
