BEARS

Common Name: Asiatic black bear

Family: URSIDAE
Scientific Name: Selenarctos thibetanus thibetanus
Bangla Name: Kalo Bhalook

A hefty ground-dwelling Bangladeshi mammal, occasionally climbing trees. All jet black, short and smooth haired with a big crescent or a V-shaped white marking on the breast, whitish cheek; paw and nose reddish yellow; claws black; hairless muzzle, tan or brown and chin white or buff. From tip or muzzle to rump 180 cm; 8 cm long very stumpy tail, remains almost invisible hidden in the fur. Weight usually 120 kg with females being little smaller and lighter. This species can easily be separated from the other two bears from its short, smooth black coat and the black claws.

It used to occur in the Sal, semi and ever-green forests, East of 90 E, it has disappeared from most, of its former range; a small population may still be present in the deep valley forest of Hill Tracts district. Occasionally found with the bear-charmers.

Common Name: Sun Bear

Family: URSIDAE
Scientific Name: Helarctos malayanus
Bangla Name: Maloyee Bhalook

Smallest of the three bears within our limits, resembling the size of a bulldog. The whole body is jet black with occasional yellow tinged patches; with a half crescent or egg-like marking on the breast, which is either white, orange or a mixture of both. The tongue is quite long, ears short and rounded. Hairs short and rough, the tail is stumpy 5 cm long, claws dirty white. From the muzzle tip to the rump it is 120 cm and weighs 30 kg or so.

The sun bear, also called Malayan sun bear, was present in the Sangu-Matamuhuri and Rangkeong, Kassalong valley reserves of the Hill Tracts district as late as the eighties. In the eighties a specimen was found by Dr. Reza Khan with the Chakma tribals of Pablakhali Wildlife Santuary in the north Forest Department. It is Undoubtedly a rare creature on the brink of extinction due to over-exploitation of the forest resources.

Common Name: Sloth Bear

Family: URSIDAE
Scientific Name: Melursus ursinus ursinus
Bangla Name: Manthar / Shadharan Bhallook

This is the bear species with the most shaggy coat of all. Generally dark black, sometimes with a brownish tinge and maybe occasionally even slaty. Hairs unkempt and longest among the three species. It has a crescent marking on the breast, muzzle and tips of feet are dirty white. The hindlimbs are shorter than the forelimbs; claws longer on forefeet and ivory white in colour. It has four incisors on upper jaw instead of six for the other species; the muzzle and lips are prolonged. From muzzle tip to rump it is 160 cm, tail 20 cm and weighs 130 kg. The females are smaller and lighter. The long, unkempt hairs prolonged snout and ivory white claws are distinctive.

Sloth bear had the widest distribution among the three bear species; it was present in the northern districts of Dinajpur and Rangpur a couple of decades back. Now a small population survives in the forests of Sylhet, Chittagong and Hill Tracts districts with recent sightings in Teknaf peninsula of Cox's Bazar FD and in Kassalong of Hill Tracts North FD. It has virtually disappeared from the Dhaka, Mymensingh and Tangail FDs. Bear-charmers often keep this as a pet.