There are eight species: polar bear, panda bear, grizzly bear, American black bear, Asian black bear, Malayan bear, sloth bear and the so-called spectacled bear. In the past, pandas were classified as members of the raccoon family, but they have now become part of the Ursidae family as well. These eight species live in the most different habitats on the planet, from polar regions to forest areas, but most of them can only be found in the northern hemisphere. Some physical and behavioral characteristics are common to all, such as the heavy body, the short tail, the long and thick fur and the sharp claws, which, unlike those of the felines, are not retractable and are always visible. Bears are also excellent swimmers, easily climb trees and can stand on their hind legs.
In general, they live alone – except when they are mating – and lasting family ties are only established between the mother and her young, which remain together for two or three years. Despite having so much in common, the various bear species differ from each other in terms of size, anatomical details, eating habits and place of residence. Polar bears, for example, inhabit the icy plains of the Arctic and feed mainly on seals. Sun bears live in the tropical forests of Asia and have insects, fruits and small animals in their diet. Scientists still do not know all the details about the longevity of these animals, but estimate that it varies between 25 and 40 years, and wild bears tend to live less than those kept in captivity.
During the 20th century, they were constantly persecuted and hunted, which meant that some species were seriously endangered, such as the panda, which became the main symbol of the fight for the preservation of animals.
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From the snow to the forest Most known species live in different habitats in the northern hemisphere
BROWN BEAR (Ursus arctos)
Size: Up to more than 3 meters
Weight: From 90 to 800 kilos
It is spread across Siberia, Alaska, northern Mexico, the Himalayas and North Africa and is the most feared of bears. It is capable of ingesting up to 40 kilos of food per day and, when chasing prey, it can reach 50 km/h, surprising speed for such a heavy animal. There are several subspecies of brown bear, which is why their weight and size vary so much. The Kodiak grizzly bear, for example, can measure more than 3 meters and is the largest terrestrial carnivore.
POLAR BEAR (Ursus maritimus)
Size: Up to 2.5 meters
Weight: 800 kilos
It lives in Arctic regions such as Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland, Siberia and the extreme north of Europe. The only bear adapted to the marine environment, it is an excellent swimmer. To resist the very low temperatures of the North Pole, its fur is long and oily. In the polar bear’s body there is still a thick layer of fat that serves as extra protection, ensuring perfect thermal insulation.
AMERICAN BLACK BEAR (Ursus americanus)
Size: 1.8 meters
Weight: From 40 to 300 kg
It inhabits the United States – including Alaska -, Canada and Mexico. Although hunters kill more than 40,000 of these animals a year, the species is not yet endangered, as it is the most numerous in the United States. It is unable to climb trees and hibernates for up to seven months a year. In preparation for facing this period of rest, the American black bear can gain 1.5 kilos a day for two months in a row. It has several subspecies of different sizes.
PANDA BEAR (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
Size: 1.5 meters
Weight: 100 kilos
It is found in the forests of south-central China. In this natural habitat there are only about a thousand giant panda bears – another 100 are in zoos. Therefore, the animal is in serious danger of disappearing from the planet. To perpetuate the species, biologists have tried, without much success, to reproduce the animal in captivity. One of the difficulties is that the female is only ready to mate for two or three days a year.
SLIP BEAR (Melursus ursinus)
Size: 1.8 meters
Weight: Up to 140 kg
Where it lives: Forests of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan
Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus)
Size: 1.8 meters
Weight: Up to 150 kg
Where it lives: In the Andes mountain range, throughout several countries in South America, such as Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia
MALAY BEAR (Ursus or Helarctos malayanus)
Size: 1.5 meters
Weight: 66 kilos
Where it lives: In tropical forests, from Southeast Asia to the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, Indonesia
ASIAN BLACK BEAR (Ursus thibetanus)
Size: 1.6 meters
Weight: 200 kilos
Where it lives: Temperate forests of Asia, from Afghanistan to Vietnam, northeast China, southeast Russia and Taiwan