A large animal species has been added to the Red List of the World Conservation Society due to its endangered status that requires conservation efforts.
According to the management board of the Pù Hu Nature Reserve in Thanh Hóa, the recent discovery of moon bears occurred during the mission titled “Survey and assess the status and conservation of bear species in Pù Hu Nature Reserve (2023 – 2025).”
Specifically, through camera trapping, authorities have detected several moon bear individuals and numerous claw marks on tree trunks within the Pù Hu Nature Reserve in Thanh Hóa.
The unit’s task is to assess the current distribution status, ecological characteristics, feeding habits, habitat conditions, potential threats, and to develop a management plan for bear conservation.
As of now, forest rangers have identified the presence of moon bears, noting a population that includes males, females, and cubs. They have recorded 39 claw marks on tree trunks and five instances of branches with fruit that have been broken and gathered by bears.
Images of claw marks on tree trunks recorded by the rangers of Pù Hu Nature Reserve. (Illustrative image).
In a discussion with Người Lao Động, Mr. Đàm Duy Đông, Deputy Director of the Pù Hu Nature Reserve Management Board, stated that the unit has collaborated with consultants to conduct field surveys, determining the distribution status of bear populations using 51 survey lines and setting up 115 camera traps in special-use forest areas to confirm the presence or absence of bear species in the reserve.
Additionally, they are identifying behaviors, biological characteristics, dietary components, habitat conditions, environmental threats, and the risk of population decline for bear species. They are also creating a mapping system to document points, lines, and areas of bear distribution within the reserve, thereby developing an action plan to discover conservation solutions for these rare bear species, contributing to the long-term maintenance of genetic resources.
The moon bear, scientifically known as Ursus thibetanus or Ursus tibetanus, is also known as the Tibetan black bear, Himalayan black bear, or Asian black bear.
This species is known to be a large mammal, weighing between 80 to 180 kg (up to 200 kg in captivity). The moon bear has a stocky body shape, a broad forehead, and round ears; its front and hind legs have five toes; it possesses strong, sharp, and curved claws; and it walks on its palms, with long hind feet that have a heel resembling a human footprint.
The long, coarse fur is a solid black color, with long fur on both sides of the neck forming a mane. The moon bear measures approximately 1.30 to 1.90 meters in length. Males weigh about 110 to 150 kg, while females are lighter, weighing around 65 to 90 kg. The lifespan of a bear is about 25 years.
A distinctive feature of this rare animal is its chest, which has a V-shaped marking that is light yellow or dirty white. Its tail is very short, hidden within its fur.
Camera trap records the presence of moon bears in Pù Hu Nature Reserve.
Moon bears are known to be very aggressive towards humans (much more so than American black bears), with many documented attacks resulting in injuries. This is likely due to their proximity to human populations, leading to defensive aggression when startled.
Moreover, moon bears are omnivorous, consuming a variety of foods such as fruits, berries, grasses, seeds, nuts, invertebrates, honey, and meats (including fish, birds, rodents, and small mammals as well as carrion).
The moon bear is listed in the IUCN Red List (International Union for Conservation of Nature) as a vulnerable species among those threatened with extinction.
This rare bear species in Vietnam, the moon bear, is currently facing the risk of extinction. The population of bears in the wild in Vietnam has severely declined, primarily due to the illegal trade of bear body parts, particularly bile used for traditional medicine.
Bear bile extraction activities in Vietnam often operate illegally, motivated by various factors, including the belief that extracting and using bear bile is not unethical, or stemming from longstanding cultural traditions and beliefs regarding the medicinal properties of bear bile.
To conserve this rare bear species, authorities must take action, and the general public must be aware of the importance of preserving rare animal populations.
