# Ursus thibetanus The Asian black bear, also known as the moon bear, has a beautiful white crescent on its chest. These bears love to climb trees and eat fruits, nuts, and honey. They are gentle giants of the forest! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 4/5 · High - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Asian Black Bear, Moon Bear ![Ursus thibetanus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ursus_thibetanus_3_%28Wroclaw_zoo%29.JPG&width=800) Photo: Guérin Nicolas ( messages ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ursus_thibetanus_3_%28Wroclaw_zoo%29.JPG) ## Appearance The Ursus thibetanus is a medium-sized bear with shaggy black fur and a distinctive white or cream V-shaped mark on its chest, often resembling a crescent moon. It has large, round ears and a relatively short snout compared to other bears, giving its face a more rounded appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Ursidae - **Genus:** Ursus ## Interesting facts - A moon bear's stomach can hold an incredible amount of fruit, helping them bulk up! - Moon bears can walk upright on two legs for short distances, just like people! - Their calls include growls, roars, and even a unique "woof" sound! - They build impressive nests high in trees for resting or sleeping, like giant furry birds! ## Special abilities - **Arboreal Agility:** Ursus thibetanus can climb trees expertly because of its strong claws and agile body, which helps them find food and escape danger. - **Scent Detective:** Ursus thibetanus has an excellent sense of smell that helps them locate food hidden under leaves or buried underground. - **Winter Napper:** Ursus thibetanus can reduce its metabolism during winter because it stores fat, allowing it to survive periods of food scarcity. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 130-190 cm - **Weight:** 60-200 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-25 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-4 - **Gestation:** 200-240 days ## Diet & Feeding These omnivores enjoy a varied diet of plants, fruits, nuts, insects, and occasionally small animals! - **Primary Foods:** Acorns, Berries, Nuts, Insects, Honey, Leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Sawtooth Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sawtooth-oak) (*Quercus acutissima*) — Devours their protein-rich acorns in autumn. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 4/5 · High If you see a bear in the wild, stay calm and back away slowly. Never approach them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ursus thibetanus? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Ursus thibetanus? 130-190 cm ### How much does Ursus thibetanus weigh? 60-200 kg ### How long does Ursus thibetanus live? 15-25 years ### How fast can Ursus thibetanus move? 40 km/h ### What does Ursus thibetanus eat? These omnivores enjoy a varied diet of plants, fruits, nuts, insects, and occasionally small animals! ### Where is Ursus thibetanus usually found? Forests ### How does Ursus thibetanus hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Tierpark Dessau](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-dessau) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo - [Nikko National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nikko-national-park) — Kanto / Tohoku, JP · Park - [Chubusangaku National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chubusangaku-national-park) — Chubu, JP · Park - [Bandai-Asahi National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bandai-asahi-national-park) — Tohoku / Chubu, JP · Park - [Hakusan National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hakusan-national-park) — Chubu, JP · Park - [Minami Alps National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/minami-alps-national-park) — Chubu, JP · Park [View all places to see Ursus thibetanus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ursus-thibetanus) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Ursus thibetanus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ursus-thibetanus)