In News:

In a significant development for Himalayan biodiversity, a rare sighting of a Himalayan Brown Bear with its family has been reported for the first time in the Dumka region between Nelang and Bhairon Ghati, within Gangotri National Park, Uttarakhand. The sighting has enthused wildlife experts and is viewed as a positive indicator of range expansion and ecosystem resilience in this fragile high-altitude region.

Significance of the Sighting

• This marks the first recorded presence of a brown bear in this specific stretch of the park.
• Previously, sightings were limited to Gomukh (6 bears) and Kedartal (3 bears), both located above 3,000 m.

About the Himalayan Brown Bear

• Scientific Name: Ursus arctos isabellinus
• Common Names: Himalayan Red Bear, Isabelline Bear; known as Denmo in Ladakhi.
• It is believed to be one of the most ancient brown bear lineages and may have inspired the Yeti legend due to its upright gait.

Distribution and Habitat

• Found in the northwestern and central Himalayas: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and China (Tibet).
• In India: Exists in fragmented populations in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
• Inhabits elevations between 3,000 and 5,500 meters, usually above the timberline in alpine meadows and snow-clad regions.

Ecological Features

• Size: Males average 1.9 m and 135 kg; females 1.6 m and 70 kg.
• Fur: Sandy or reddish-brown; thick to endure high-altitude cold.
• Diet: Omnivorous – consumes roots, berries, nuts, small mammals, fish, and insects.
• Behavior: Solitary, except during mating or a mother with cubs; hibernates during winter in dens.
• Lifespan: 20–30 years in the wild.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (India): Schedule I
• CITES: Appendix I