Human–carnivore conflict (HCC) is a major conservation and livelihood challenge in the Indian Himalayas. In Himachal Pradesh, leopards (Panthera pardus) and black bears (Ursus thibetanus) are widespread, but research has mostly focused on protected areas, leaving human-dominated landscapes understudied. This study investigates HCC in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, between January 2014 and August 2022, with emphasis on livestock depredation, human casualties, and spatio-temporal trends. Conflict records were compiled from four divisional forest offices (N=193) and supplemented with semi-structured interviews (N=86) to assess species involved, type of conflict, and compensation status. Results revealed that leopards were the primary cause of livestock depredation, targeting goats (57.42%) and sheep (26.45%), while black bears were more often involved in direct human encounters. The Nurpur Forest Division reported the highest number of cases (N=72) with 421 livestock deaths followed by Palampur (N=54), Dehra (N=51), and Dharamshala (N=24). Seasonal analysis showed conflict peaks in the rainy (N=59) and summer (N=58) seasons. Leopard depredation was highest in summer and rainy months, while black bear incidents peaked in autumn. Statistical analysis confirmed a significant upward trend in leopard attacks over the study period (R²=0.74, p=0.0059). The findings highlight the growing intensity of HCC outside protected areas and underscore the need for mitigation strategies, including predator-proof livestock enclosures, awareness programs, and timely compensation to reduce retaliatory attitudes and promote coexistence.

ABSTRACT Wildlife rehabilitation restores distressed animals to a condition suitable for survival in the wild. For endangered Asiatic black bears ( Ursus thibetanus ), this might represent not only a humane intervention but also a strategy for conserving vulnerable populations. However, techniques for subadult and adult bears remain poorly tested, despite increasing anthropogenic and natural threats at the northern edge of their range. We describe the in situ rehabilitation of a starving 2‐year‐old male bear in the Russian Far East. Due to an anomalous autumn food shortage, the bear was forced to over‐winter near a settlement in an atypical den. It left this den periodically in February because it lacked sufficient fat reserves. We provided supplemental feeding over 3.5 weeks, which allowed the bear to recover and move away from the settlement. Our techniques can serve as a model to rehabilitate bears under extreme conditions, such as exhaustion, low temperatures, and food scarcity.

The relative influence of diet, host phylogeny, and environment on animal gut microbiota remains unresolved, particularly for endangered ursids lacking quantitative data. Here, we systematically evaluated the drivers of gut microbial assembly in captive versus wild giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), red pandas (Ailurus fulgens), and Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) using 16S rRNA V4 sequencing. Compared with wild cohorts, captive giant pandas exhibited significantly reduced α-diversity (P < 0.05), whereas captive red pandas and black bears showed significant increases (P < 0.05). Weighted UniFrac-based β-diversity analysis revealed that intra-species distances between captive and wild individuals exceeded those observed between species within either habitat (P < 0.001), indicating profound community restructuring under captivity. At the phylum level, captive animals were dominated by Firmicutes (68.6 ± 23.0%), in contrast to Proteobacteria dominance in wild populations (81.2 ± 17.6%). Genus‐level shifts included an enrichment of Sarcina in captive bears and Streptococcus and Escherichia–Shigella in captive pandas, whereas wild bears and pandas were predominantly enriched in Burkholderia and Pseudomonas, respectively. PERMANOVA attributed 21.6% of community variance to environment (F = 23.62), compared to 12.3% for host phylogeny (F = 6.75) and 3.9% for diet (F = 4.32). These findings demonstrate that captive management is the primary determinant of gut microbiota divergence in giant pandas, red pandas, and Asiatic black bear provide microbiome-based guidance for improving captive husbandry and reintroduction success.

ABSTRACTThis study examined the connectivity between the current suitable habitat and the core habitat for Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in human‐dominated landscapes and aimed to provide a basis for future conservation strategies for black bear populations in China. We collected occurrence locations (N = 130) of Asiatic black bears from 2014 to 2023, with data sources spanning 12 provincial administrative regions and covering an area of about 3,010,000 km2. We predicted the distribution of suitable habitats for Asiatic black bears via the MaxEnt species distribution model using a combination of multiple environmental variables such as topography, vegetation, climate, and anthropogenic disturbances. We performed habitat corridor planning by using the least‐cost path model and circuit theory. The results suggested that (1) Asiatic black bears have a marked preference for mountainous environments with middle and high altitude (> 1000 m), high amounts of precipitation (> 200 mm), and dense vegetation, and they generally avoid areas of anthropogenic disturbance. (2) The suitable habitats for Asiatic black bears showed a highly fragmented pattern, mainly concentrated along the borders of Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, and Jiangxi (the Zhe–Gan Region), the borders of Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hunan (the Hu–Guang Region), and the borders of Shaanxi, Chongqing, Hubei, Guizhou, and Sichuan (the Chuan–Shaan Region). Of the predicted 372,483 km2 of suitable habitat, only 23.65% is currently covered by protected and conserved areas. (3) A comprehensive landscape connectivity analysis identified 79 core habitat patches encompassing a total area of 33,257 km2. Notably, only 29.29% of these patches are currently under protection. Furthermore, we delineated 79 potential least‐cost paths, each with an average length of 43.66 km, and identified pinch points along these pathways that could impede connectivity. To ensure the long‐term survival of Asiatic black bear populations, we recommend enhancing the protection and restoration efforts for the three core habitats and their associated potential connectivity pathways.

The exploration of Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandi district has revealed the presence of sixteen mammalian species across seven orders and thirteen families. The Order Carnivora is most dominant, with the highest number of species and families. Among the families, Cercopithecidae, Felidae and Mustelidae are widespread in the sanctuary. The study focuses on species diversity, population trends, IUCN status, IWPA (1972) status including altitudinal distributional trend. According to the IUCN status, two species (Ursus thibetanus and Panthera pardus) are Vulnerable, Semnopithecus ajax is Endangered, twelve species are categorized as Least Concern and Naemorhedus goral is included under Near Threatened category. According to Indian Wildlife Protection Act (IWPA) 1972, 7 species fall under schedule II, Three species under III, Two species under IV whereas Two species under schedule I.

The gut microbiota is a key regulator of host energy metabolism, but its role in seasonal adaptation and evolution of bears is still unclear. Although giant pandas are considered an extraordinary member of the Ursidae family due to their specialized herbivory and low metabolic rate, there is still controversy over whether the metabolic regulation mechanism of their gut microbiota is unique. This study analyzed the seasonal dynamics of gut microbiota in giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), Asian black bears (Ursus thibetanus), brown bears (Ursus arctos), and polar bears (Ursus maritimus), and combined with fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments, revealed the following findings. The microbial composition of the four bear species is similar, with both Firmicutes and Proteobacteria dominating. The enrichment of Firmicutes in winter enhances lipid metabolism, and adapts to dietary differences, indicating the existence of convergent microbial functional strategies in the Ursidae family. Our results demonstrate that bear gut microbiota promoted seasonal adaptation. In FMT experiments, bear gut microbiota in winter may had stronger functional capabilities on regulating host energy metabolism in mice, and regulate host appetite to increase energy intake. Finally, despite feeding on bamboo, giant pandas microbiota driven energy metabolism pathways (such as SCFAs) are highly conserved compared to other bears, suggesting a deep commonality in the adaptability of bear microbiota in evolution. Therefore, this study challenges the traditional view of microbial uniqueness of giant pandas, and emphasizes the co-evolutionary mechanism of energy metabolism adaptation in bear animals through microbial plasticity. In the future, it is necessary to integrate wild samples to eliminate the interference of captive diet and further analyze the genetic basis of host gut microbiota interactions.

To investigate the potential contribution of herpesvirus infection in the development of ocular surface disease in Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus). Eight captive Asiatic black bears housed at a wildlife sanctuary were examined during routine health assessments. Fourteen cytobrush conjunctival samples were collected from eight subjects. A first bear was sampled in January 2024 with a pooled sample acquired from both eyes. Seven more animals underwent a full ophthalmic exam and conjunctival cytobrush sampling in February 2024. From those animals, one cytobrush sample per eye was acquired. DNA was extracted from the samples and tested for the presence of herpesviruses by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All but one animal showed evidence of active or past ocular surface disease. Nested PCR on a highly conserved region in herpesvirus genomes showed the presence of herpesvirus DNA in six samples obtained from 5 individuals. Three animals tested negative. PCR products from positive cases were subjected to Sanger sequencing, and results were aligned against the NCBI nucleotide collection. Sequences returned with over 95% similarity to Ursid gammaherpesvirus 2 (UrHV-2). Five of the positively tested eyes (5/6, 83%) and two of the negatively tested eyes (2/9, 22%) showed active ocular surface disease. This study represents the first report of ursid gammaherpesvirus identification in bears with keratoconjunctivitis. The findings indicate a potential association between UrHV-2 and active ocular surface disease in Asiatic black bears. Further research is warranted to clarify its role in the pathogenesis of ocular surface disease in this species.

Brown bears (Ursus arctos) and black bears (Ursus thibetanus) are important species on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. However, limited studies have been conducted on these species due to sampling constraints. This study, using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and untargeted metabolomics, analyzed fecal samples from six wild brown bears and six wild black bears. The results revealed distinct gut microbiota profiles, with brown bears showing higher microbial richness, particularly in Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteriota, while black bears were mainly enriched in Firmicutes. Lipid metabolism emerged as the primary metabolic pathway for both species, probably aiding adaptation to the plateau environment. Notably, we found positive correlations between differential metabolites and specific microbiota; in addition, traces of pesticides suggested contamination in the region. Our study provides valuable insights into the gut microbial diversity and metabolomic features of wild brown bears and black bears from the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, contributing to our understanding of wildlife ecology in this unique environment.

We sought to identify herpesviruses in wild Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) of the Russian Far East in and near the Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Zapovednik protected area. We used multiple herpesvirus consensus PCRs targeting the glycoprotein B and DNA polymerase genes followed by DNA sequencing to test blood samples collected over a 22-year period. We found identical herpesvirus sequences in 3 of 41 tigers by consensus PCR and 8 of 41 tigers (19.5%) using a virus-specific PCR. Persistent infection was demonstrated in a tiger that remained virus DNA-positive in three blood samples over a 2.5-year period. Surprisingly, the viral DNA sequence present in tigers had 98.8% identity to mustelid gammaherpesvirus 1 (MusGHV1) commonly found in European badgers (Meles meles), which do not range to the Russian Far East. We then tested 69 blood samples from 11 other carnivore species collected in this region and found that 81.0% (17/21) of Asian badgers (Meles leucurus), but no other species, had MusGHV1 sequences with 99.8–100% identity to those found in tigers. Interaction between Amur tigers and Asian badgers is supported by previous studies demonstrating that badgers are a common prey species for tigers in this region. Taken together, these results are consistent with the interpretation that a strain of MusGHV1 common in Asian badgers was transmitted via predator-prey interactions to Amur tigers. While gammaherpesviruses are generally thought to exhibit strong host species-specificity, our results present an example of cross-species transmission and one of the first examples, to our knowledge, of gammaherpesvirus predator-prey transmission. In addition, we identified novel gammaherpesviruses in sable (Martes zibellina), Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), and brown bear (Ursus arctos).

Approximately 17,000 bears undergo bile extraction in facilities across Asia for traditional medicines despite the availability of proven alternatives. Bears are confined to cages and bile harvested from the gallbladder via needle aspiration, implanted catheters, or transabdominal fistulas. Bile-extracted bears develop numerous detrimental conditions, including abnormal repetitive behaviors, emaciation, dental disease, cholecystitis, hernias, abscesses, and neoplasia. A high prevalence of aortic dilation, commonly seen with systemic hypertension, was reported in bile-extracted bears, and aortic aneurysm rupture/dissection was the third leading cause of death in a population of 600 formerly bile-extracted bears. A high incidence of renal disease, a common cause of systemic hypertension in other species, was also identified in this population. We hypothesized that renal disease was positively correlated with lesions of systemic hypertension in bile-extracted bears. Archived medical records, imaging, and samples from 180 formerly bile-extracted bears were analyzed. Hypertensive retinopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy, and aortic dilation were used as validated correlates of systemic hypertension. The majority (76.1%) of bears exhibited at least one systemic hypertension lesion, and 62.8% had two or more lesions. Left ventricular hypertrophy was most common, followed by aortic dilation/aneurysm. Lesions of systemic hypertension were positively correlated to renal disease parameters of serum creatinine and renal histopathology. Understanding the etiology of systemic hypertension in this population is critical due to consequent comorbidities and increasing numbers of bile-extracted bears finding their way to sanctuary.

In this study, we examined filarial infections in Japanese black bears around the Lake Towada area from 2020 to 2022. Microfilariae were observed in 81.6% of blood smears. Consistent withprevious findings in Iwate Prefecture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis detected Dirofilaria ursi (89.7%) and Mansonella sp. (66.7%) in extractedblood DNA. The body size of D. ursi microfilariae matched previous reports, whereas Mansonella sp. microfilariae were smaller than those of D.ursi and other known species. Although we attempted to identify Mansonella sp. adult filariae using PCR, all recovered adults were D. ursi; noadult Mansonella sp. were detected. Further studies are needed to better identify and understand both the adult filariae and microfilariae of Mansonella sp.in Japanese black bears.

Abstract Nonconsumptive effects (NCEs) on prey animals by predators have received considerable interest in wildlife ecology and conservation. However, NCEs by large carnivore species with omnivorous diet still remains unclear. The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is widely found in eastern parts of the Eurasian Continent, including Honshu and Shikoku Islands of Japan. At present, this bear species is the only large carnivore in the region as a typical omnivore that occasionally predates sika deer (Cervus nippon). If sika deer recognize predation threats from black bears, then the NCEs by bears will provoke antipredator behavioral responses by the deer. In testing this hypothesis, we evaluated the spatial and temporal overlaps between bears and deer as well as compared the vigilance level and spatiotemporal avoidance observed in sika deer between bear-active and -inactive years, using camera trapping in an agroforest landscape in Fukushima, eastern Japan. Consequently, we found little changes in deer behaviors between bear-active and -inactive years, indicating that sika deer neither exhibited spatial partitioning and spatiotemporal avoidances from black bears nor increased their vigilance even in bear-active year. We concluded that our study showed no significant NCE of omnivorous Asiatic black bears on sika deer.

The Hanoi Wildlife Rescue Center (WRC) plays a crucial role in the rescue, care, and release of wild animals. The health of these animals was meticulously evaluated during their care and before their reintroduction into their natural habitat. An annual surveillance study of parasitic infections in wildlife at the Hanoi WRC was conducted to establish a scientific basis for developing preventive measures to manage the health of these animals. A total of 46 fresh fecal samples were opportunistically collected immediately following defecation using a shovel. These samples were obtained from 25 tigers (age: 10.8±3.6 years) and 21 bears (age: 11.2±4.6 years) captured at the Hanoi WRC in November 2024. Fecal samples were examined using sedimentation and centrifugal flotation methods to identify the presence of parasites. Subsequently, parasite eggs were collected using a micropipette for DNA extraction. Polymerase chain reaction and sequencing techniques were used to determine the parasite species. It was found that 20.0% of tigers (5 out of 25) and 23.8% of bears (5 out of 21) were infected with parasitic worms. The identification of these infections was achieved through the examination of the morphological characteristics of the eggs. This analysis identified the presence of trematode eggs, nematode eggs, including Strongyle type, and Toxascaris leonina. Molecular analysis further identified Strongyle eggs as belonging to Ancylostoma ceylanicum, which accounted for 12.0% of infections in tigers and 23.8% in bears. Additionally, Toxascaris leonina was detected exclusively in tigers, representing 12.0% of infections. Trematode eggs were found solely in tiger feces; however, molecular amplification was unsuccessful due to the insufficient number of eggs detected. The discovery of two zoonotic nematodes, A. ceylanicum and To. leonina in tigers and bears at the Hanoi (WRC) underscores the potential risk of nematode transmission from wildlife to humans and domestic animals in this area and its surrounding areas. The findings of this study will aid in the development of a prevention program aimed at controling gastrointestinal helminths in wild animals within the study region.

Eight adult Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) rescued from bile farms in Vietnam were diagnosed with chronic cholecystitis that required surgical intervention. In addition, these bears exhibited various comorbidities, including cardiovascular changes, chronic kidney disease, degenerative joint disease, obesity, and sarcopenia. The bears were anesthetized for an open midline cholecystectomy using a combination of 3 mg/kg tiletamine/zolazepam, 0.035 mg/kg medetomidine, and 0.05 mg/kg butorphanol administered IM via blowpipe. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in 100% oxygen. Butorphanol IV was repeated q90 min, and meloxicam was given SC at the beginning of surgery. An ultrasound-guided one-point transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block with 0.25% bupivacaine (0.2 ml/kg) was performed in order to desensitize the ventral branches of the last thoracic and lumbar spinal nerves, which innervate the abdominal wall. Additionally, 0.1 ml/kg of same injectate was instilled intraperitoneally twice to manage visceral pain. Lidocaine was administered IV as a continuous-rate infusion at a rate of 10 µg/kg/min. Throughout the procedure, all bears received intravenous fluids and systemic antibiotics. In all bears, cardiovascular parameters remained stable during surgery: heart rate 56 ± 9 bpm, respiratory rate 8 ± 3 bpm and mean arterial blood pressure 128 ± 40 mmHg. No cardiovascular response to surgical stimuli was observed. The TAP block was easy to perform, and no complications were observed during or after the block. The overall dose of local anesthetics was maintained within the recommended range for carnivores, with no signs of local anesthetic toxicity observed. All animals recovered well from anesthesia and returned to their husbandry routine within 6 wk postcholecystectomy. This multimodal analgesic approach seemed to have been effective to provide perioperative analgesia in these Asiatic black bears. It was demonstrated to be a safe, cost-effective, and easily implemented protocol.

Lead concentration in blood of Asian black bears in two areas of Central Japan.

Abstract The following report is a review of five clinical cases of bears living at the Animals Asia Foundation's Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre. Three Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) and two Malayan sun bears (Helarctos malayanus malayanus) were treated with amlodipine for systemic hypertension, and subsequently diagnosed later in life with gingival hyperplasia, which is recognised in other species as an adverse effect of this medication. Based on this review, recommendations for the use of amlodipine and other medical management options for systemic hypertension in captive bears are discussed.

Abstract Wild meat hunting is one of the primary threats to biodiversity, and it is important to understand the drivers of hunting by communities residing within biodiverse areas, the methods they employ and their preferences for particular wild meat types. We investigated these aspects of wild meat hunting amongst the Indigenous Naga tribes of the Indo–Myanmar biodiversity hotspot in Nagaland, north-east India. Local people consumed all 31 species of wild mammals detected on camera traps, but the hunters we surveyed mostly preferred large-bodied wild mammals, particularly barking deer Muntiacus muntjak and bears (Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus, sun bear Helarctos malayanus). Hunting is subsistence driven following the predictions of optimal foraging theory. The traditional hunting weapons, techniques and strategies used varied according to prey, forest habitat type, community and season. The use of guns, however, is widespread and has replaced most traditional methods of hunting. Additionally, subsistence hunting is evolving into an economically driven activity because of the influence of wildlife trafficking. Discussions with local people regarding their perceptions of conservation provided insights into the dependency of these communities on biodiversity and their recognition of biodiversity losses from overhunting. Nevertheless, communities appear not to be motivated to participate in biodiversity conservation. An interdisciplinary approach to conservation, addressing education coupled with integrated policies that could sustain economic and cultural values is needed in communities such as Nagaland, where hunting remains culturally driven and primarily subsistence orientated.

Corrigendum: Identifying corridors for Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in a part of Eastern Himalayas, India

Abstract Understanding the trade‐off between resource acquisition and risk avoidance is crucial in behavioral ecology. Differences in parental investment and reproductive success between males and females can result in intersexual variations in the trade‐off between resource acquisition and risk‐taking. Roads, a major cause of habitat fragmentation, pose significant mortality risks to animals. We investigated the sex and seasonal differences in road‐crossing behavior and home ranges of Asian black bears (Ursus thibetanus), as an example of risk‐taking behavior of mammals in a fragmented landscape, in the Ashio‐Nikko Mountains, Japan, from 2005 to 2023. Using GPS relocation data, we analyzed the frequency of road crossings and home range sizes and applied integrated step selection analysis to assess road‐crossing avoidance in relation to sex, season, road type, and time of day. Bears generally avoided crossing roads, indicating that roads act as movement barriers. During the mating season, males crossed all types of roads and had larger home ranges, whereas females did not cross main and minor roads. During the hyperphagia season, both sexes crossed all road types and had larger home ranges compared to the mating season. Our findings suggest that sex‐ and season‐specific risk‐taking behavior of bears relates to mate and food acquisition: males take more risks to search for mates during the mating season compared to females. Bears crossed gated minor roads most frequently, followed by minor roads and main roads, with crossings occurring more often at night than during the day across all road types. These results suggest bears perceive and respond differently to risks of roads, which are linked to the level of human activity.

To explore the feed formula of artificial feeding Ursus thibetanus, and to provide a reference for the feed formula of post-weaning Asian black bear cubs. A suitable feed formula for early weaning black bear cubs was selected from 25 newly weaned black bear cubs. The results showed that 25% formula dog milk, 65% formula rice flour and 10% corn flour were the most suitable feed formulas for early weaning black bear cubs.