Rescued Bornean sun bear cub mass increases during rehabilitative hand-rearing
The amount and composition of milk used in hand-raising ursids significantly influences development, growth rates, abnormalities, and survival rates of cubs. This study analyzes hand-raised cub feeding (mL/kg) and mass (kg) data for Bornean sun bear (Helarctos malayanus euryspilus) cubs collected at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sabah, Malaysia, since 2013 to provide […]
Underground archives: Exploring bear traces in Greek caves
Bear marks in caves provide invaluable insights into the behavior, ecology, and environmental interactions of both modern and extinct bear species. This study examines bear traces in Greek caves, including claw scratches, polished surfaces, and denning pits, attributed primarily to the brown bear (Ursus arctos). Over 24 years of cave exploration, such traces were identified […]
Observation of predatory infanticide by a solitary female brown bear
The killing and consumption of young in ursids is usually carried out by unrelated males. Females also exhibit this behavior, but existing observations are limited to females with offspring. This report presents an observation of a solitary adult female brown bear (Ursus arctos), bear 175, killing and consuming a yearling in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, […]
Intelligent bear deterrence system based on computer vision: Reducing human–bear conflicts in remote areas
Human–bear conflicts on the Tibetan Plateau threaten both local livelihoods and the conservation of Tibetan brown bears (Ursus arctos pruinosus). To address this challenge, we developed a low-power, network-independent deterrence system that combines computer vision with Internet of Things (IoT) hardware. The system integrates a YOLOv5-MobileNet detection model deployed on a low-power edge artificial intelligence […]
Demography of American black bears in a semiarid environment
The American black bear (Ursus americanus) has one of the broadest geographic distributions of any mammalian carnivore in North America. Populations occur from high to low elevations and from mesic to arid environments, and their demographic traits have been documented in a wide variety of environments. However, the demography of American black bears in semiarid […]
High-resolution techniques reveal the palaeoecology of an exceptionally large Ursus arctos from the Late Pleistocene of East Siberia
Cementum and dentin increment analysis and dental microwear analysis were used for the first time to study the dental remains of a giant brown bear (Ursus arctos) from the Late Pleistocene of Yakutia, Russia. Dental increment analysis showed that this bear died during the warm season (May–Sep) in the prime of its life—at the age […]
Testing the use of remote cameras to index body condition in brown and black bears
Body condition of large mammals is a highly labile parameter that is influenced by recent nutrition, the seasonal hormonal cycle, intrinsic traits such as age and reproductive status, and extrinsic stress factors such as predation risk, social dominance, or human disturbance. Body condition thus integrates many population- and individual-level factors into a single measure of […]
Edible ant availability and distribution as resources for the Asiatic black bear
The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is a generalist omnivore consuming a wide range of food items, including ants (family Formicidae) and other social insects during summer. The distribution of ant resources is thought to influence habitat selection by Asiatic black bear. We investigated the distribution of ant resources during summer in bear habitat in […]
Noninvasive genetic assessment of sloth bear diversity and population structure in Nepal
The genetic diversity of wildlife populations is crucial in maintaining their fitness and resilience to environmental changes and disease. Despite their rarity, ecological importance, and being an endangered species of public concern, information on sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) from Nepal is limited, and they are yet to receive conservation priority. To address this gap, we […]