Tibetan Blue Bear

## Background Information

### Alternate Name(s)

Tibetan brown bear, Tibetan snow bear, Himalayan blue bear, Horse bear, Dom gyamuk

## Classification

### Subspecies

U. a. pruinosus

The Tibetan blue bear ***(Ursus arctos pruinosus)*** or Dom gyamuk in Tibetan, is an Asian subspecies of brown bear ***(Ursus arctos)*** that inhabits the Tibetan plateau. The blue bear has dense fur, that is black or dark brown in colour. It also covers the exterior ears. The face is usually lighter, typically being beige around the snout and light brown across the rest of the face and head. A yellowish-cream coloured band is apparent across the blue bear's throat and neck. The name of the blue bear comes from the fact that; from a distance, the guard hairs of the species appear grey or even pale blue in colour. The cubs mirror the same colouring as their adult counterparts however, may appear paler in comparison. Tibetan blue bears also share characteristically long claws and five digits on their feet, a common feature among bears. Blue bears also exhibit a plantigrade stance, where the bear walks on the soles of its feet. It is thought that an adult male blue bear can reach 1.8-2.1m (6-7ft) long, with a shoulder width of 1m (3ft). Female individuals are likely smaller.

## Diet

Tibetan blue bears are omnivorous animals and frequent predators of other Tibetan species. Blue bears have shown a preference for black-lipped pikas ***(Ochotona curzionae)***, of which they hunt often. It is likely that the blue bear consumes also a variety of vegetation, including pine nuts, according to Bear Conservation.

## Conservation Status

Though the Tibetan blue bear has not yet been evaluated by the IUCN, the subspecies likely faces a multitude of threats. Habitat encroachment and human development in the eastern Tibetan plateau may be one of the largest contributors to the range decline that the species has faced in previous years (discussed below). Human settlement pushes bears closer to human contact, which can lead to poaching. Bear bile is a common ingredient in some traditional Chinese medicines also, which involves the illegal hunting of the Tibetan blue bear. Trade of blue bear specimens and products have been illegalised in the USA since the establishment of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the species is also listed under Appendix I of CITES, further restricting blue bear trade.

## Range and Population

The Tibetan blue bear can be found only in the harsh mountainous and alpine terrain of the eastern Tibetan plateau and Bhutan. The blue bear occurs at elevations of 4,500-5,400m (14,763-17,716ft). The subspecies once had a larger distribution that encompassed Nepal and western China. The bear distribution likely suffered a decrease due to a combination of overhunting and habitat encroachment. Some believe that the Tibetan blue bear has become completely extinct in the wild, only existing in zoos however, sightings reported and confirmed in 2013 and 2019 have counteracted this claim, as well as the footage captured of the subspecies in the 2021 French documentary, *The Velvet Queen*. The blue bear's population is unknown currently.

## Behaviour

As possibly the least documented brown bear subspecies, little to nothing is known about the Tibetan blue bear's behavioural characteristics.

### Relationship with Humans

The Tibetan blue bear has been thought to have caused livestock casualties in the past among Tibetan locals. In reality, the Tibetan blue bear is very shy of humans and likely does not encroach onto human settlements. Sir Edmund Hillary (1919-2008) would retrieve two scraps of fur from a Tibetan expedition which were identified as Yeti hairs by Tibetan locals, in 1961. Later scientific examination however, concluded that the fur belonged to the Tibetan blue bear. This interaction could possibly imply that the Tibetan blue bear inspired the myths surrounding the Yeti.

## In Captivity

The Tibetan blue bear is frequently found in Asian zoos. It is housed at Chengdu Zoo and Beijing Zoo, both in China, as well as Oji Zoo, Japan. The species is seldom-spotted in the wild, leading many to believe it only exists in captivity.

## Sources

* Tibetan Blue Bear | Bear Conservation - http://www.bearconservation.org.uk/tibetan-blue-bear/
* Tibetan Blue Bear | Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan\_blue\_bear
* Tibetan Blue Bear | Bears of the World - http://www.bearsoftheworld.net/tibetan\_blue\_bear.asp
* Tibetan Blue Bear | ZOOINSTITUTES - https://zooinstitutes.com/animals/tibetan-blue-bear-3317/