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Post by brobear on May 16, 2020 17:45:54 GMT -5
baku-magazine.com/conservation/endangered-caucasian-brown-bear/ ENDANGERED: CAUCASIAN BROWN BEAR understood creatures finally being protected Found: The Caucasian or Syrian brown bear (Ursus arctos syriacus) is a subspecies of brown bear native to the Caucasus. Once common across the Middle East from Egypt to Pakistan, it is now extinct in many of those countries, including its eponymous home of Syria. Genetically speaking, this particular bear should probably not be regarded as a subspecies at all, but having said that, in size (it is the smallest of the brown bears) and colour (with generally lighter strawcoloured fur and, unusually, pale claws), it is quite distinct in appearance. It lives in the highland forests and occasionally in lowland woodlands in the hills and mountains of northern and southern Azerbaijan. Under threat because: Caucasian brown bear numbers have suffered badly in recent decades as a result of trophy hunting and the trade in bear bile for Asian traditional medicine. Habitat destruction, too, is a major problem for bears, with the cutting down of forests for firewood and lumber. Brown bear population numbers may be stable across their global range, but this particular bear is seriously endangered in the region. Outlook: Despite a particular Caucasian brown bear being one of the most famous bears in the world (Wojtek, a cub adopted by the Polish army in the Second World War before living out his days as a celebrity in Edinburgh Zoo), little has been done to halt their declining numbers. Special nature sanctuaries in Azerbaijan have provided safe havens, but there needs to be more research to establish population numbers and effectively combat the threats they face.
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Post by brobear on Jun 3, 2020 6:15:59 GMT -5
www.iucn.org/content/mystery-brown-bears-syria Mystery of Brown Bears in Syria Various written accounts and artefacts indicate that the Syrian Bear (Ursus arctos syriacus), a subspecies of the Brown Bear (Ursus arctos), once ranged throughout the Middle East, as far south as the Sinai Peninsula. The bears were often viewed as pests or as threats to human safety, and were killed as a result. These killings, combined with the loss of suitable habitat through deforestation and subsequent desertification, led to a marked reduction in the bears’ range. Today, the Syrian Bear still ranges from Turkey to Iran, including the Caucasus Mountains of Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, but is generally believed to be extinct in its namesake country of Syria, as well as neighbouring Lebanon. However, a discovery made in 2004 may indicate otherwise. It is always difficult to know whether a rare animal might still exist in some remote pocket of a country where it was thought to have been eliminated. A notable example is Iraq. The Bear Specialist Group (SG) was unaware of bears in Iraq until 2006, when a US military pilot observed what he believed to be a wild Syrian Bear through an infrared sensor. He did a Google search for bear experts in the Middle East, found the Bear SG, and reported his sighting. Recently, we learned from the NGO Nature Iraq that Syrian Bears definitely still exist in parts of the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq — during interviews conducted in 2010, local people in 10 of 30 sites reported the presence of bears, and local hunters occasionally kill bears and document these events on their cell phone cameras. In Syria, however, the general consensus seems to be that bears have been absent for approximately 50 years. Even as long ago as the 1880s, bears were reported to be rare in Syria, living only around Mount Hermon and some remaining wooded areas in or near Lebanon. A report published by Dr. Lee Talbot indicated continued sightings of Syrian Bears, as well as bear skins and cubs, for sale in markets in Syria as late as 1955. But this seemed to be the last hard evidence of bears in this country, and they are now listed as Extinct in Syria on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM . It therefore came as quite a surprise for the Bear SG to learn that Brown Bears had been chosen as Syria’s Animal of the Year for 2010. Further investigation of the reasons behind this species choice led the Bear SG to Mr. Issam Hajjar, who had seen and photographed tracks of a bear in 2004 in the Bloudan area, near Damascus. Issam works as a researcher and photographer for the French Institute of the Middle East in Damascus, focusing on the historical and geographical heritage of Syria. In January 2004, he was hiking with a friend through the Anti Lebanon mountain range; it was foggy and snow blanketed the plain at 1,900 metres. He commonly encountered tracks of wolves, rabbits and birds in this area, but the tracks he found that day were much larger, and had five toes and distinct large claws. He took photos, and only later realized that the tracks he had documented belonged to a bear. Although this was the first evidence of bears in Syria in about 50 years, the discovery went unheralded until, as a consequence of this finding, this species was chosen as Syria’s Animal of the Year six years later. What is particularly unusual about the finding is that local people seemed unaware of there being bears in the vicinity, even though the plains where the tracks were found are dotted with apple orchards, an obvious bear attractant. The Bear SG has examined the photos and has no doubt that the tracks are that of a bear. Furthermore, if bears have survived in this area since the 1950s, there must be a reproductively active population, not just a few scattered individuals (which might live for 20-30 years). Alternatively, the tracks may have been from a wandering vagrant from Turkey, or a previously captive individual. Recent investigations in the area revealed stories of a bear that was killed in that area the same year the footprints were discovered. Presently, only 1% of the land area in Syria is protected, and Syrians are prohibited from entering most nature reserves. Moreover, few wildlife surveys have been conducted. Consequently, Syrians are typically not aware of the wildlife inhabiting their country, which makes it difficult to stimulate conservation-related activities. The Bear SG will pursue this intriguing situation further, believing that documenting the rediscovery of a charismatic animal like the Syrian Bear –the Brown Bear of Antiquity – might just be what is needed to generate more enthusiasm for conservation.
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Post by brobear on Jun 3, 2020 6:39:21 GMT -5
www.bearconservation.org.uk/syrian-brown-bear/ Accepted scientific name: Ursus arctos syriacus (Hemprich and Ehrenberg, 1828) Description: The smallest subspecies of the brown bear, about two to two and a half metres in length and weighing up to around 250 kg. The pelage is greyish-brown, generally of a pale shade. Fur near the shoulders is usually longer and may be darker with sometimes a dark stripe down the back and sometimes a dark brown patch on the top of the head. Often the legs are darker than the rest of the body. The only bear in the world known to have white claws. Range: Northern Armenia, Azerbaijan, Abkhazia in Georgia, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Turkey and Turkmenistan. The bear became extinct in Syria around fifty years ago, and much longer ago than that in Israel, Lebanon and the Sinai Peninsula. Habitat: The forests, grasslands and meadows of the mountain regions of its range. Status: Declining population; endangered. Overall however, Ursus arctos as a species is listed as “of least concern” by the IUCN and listed in CITES Appendix II. Life span: Presumed to be in the region of 20 to 25 years in the wild. Food: Omnivorous. Eats fruit, berries, seeds, plants, grasses, nuts, grubs, and small mammals. Will also enter agricultural land in former habitat andconsume cultivated grains and domesticated livestock. Behaviour: Information on this subspecies is sparse. Builds a winter den in caves or tree hollows (frequently in the higher altitude birch forests). Mating is believed to occur between May and July with cubs born in the winter den around January or early February. Threats: Habitat loss, mainly through the development of agriculture, increases incidences of conflict with humans. In addition poaching, hunting and the trade in bear-parts for medicine all adversely affect the remaining bears..
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Post by brobear on Jun 3, 2020 6:45:55 GMT -5
Syrian brown bear distribution:
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Post by OldGreenGrolar on Dec 19, 2020 22:04:40 GMT -5
The Syrian brown bear also does not hibernate because of the climate it lives in.
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Post by King Kodiak on Dec 19, 2020 22:17:34 GMT -5
The Syrian brown bear also does not hibernate because of the climate it lives in. Where did you read that?
HABITAT
The Syrian brown bear sleeps and hibernates in caves and hollow trees found in mountainous areas.
www.bearsoftheworld.net/syrian_brown_bear.asp
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Post by OldGreenGrolar on Dec 19, 2020 22:23:58 GMT -5
The Syrian brown bear also does not hibernate because of the climate it lives in. Where did you read that?
HABITAT
The Syrian brown bear sleeps and hibernates in caves and hollow trees found in mountainous areas.
www.bearsoftheworld.net/syrian_brown_bear.asp
I stand corrected. If not mistaken, it was from a very old post on the late AVA (before it moved to tapatalk)- I forgot the poster who said it.
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Post by OldGreenGrolar on Dec 19, 2020 22:26:23 GMT -5
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Post by King Kodiak on Dec 19, 2020 22:27:00 GMT -5
Alot of different species, and subspecies of bears, alot of diffetent habits, too much info, that can be confusing sometimes.
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Post by brobear on Feb 9, 2021 3:48:23 GMT -5
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Post by King Kodiak on Feb 14, 2021 8:49:52 GMT -5
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Post by tom on Feb 14, 2021 9:06:43 GMT -5
Is that why some of them look like they're laughing with smiles on their faces?
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Post by Montezuma on Apr 10, 2021 2:27:45 GMT -5
What was the intereaction between the syrian bear and asian lion? Did they have any intereaction with the Caspanian tiger.
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Post by brobear on Apr 10, 2021 2:41:04 GMT -5
What was the intereaction between the syrian bear and asian lion? Did they have any intereaction with the Caspanian tiger. History leaves us with no clues. IF Asiatic lions are ever given more land to improve their population and decrease inbreeding; we then receive some insight on lion/tiger relations, lion/sloth bear relations, and ( more unlikely ) lion/brown bear relations. But, for decades now, its been all talk.
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Post by Montezuma on Apr 10, 2021 2:42:33 GMT -5
I belive that mature male brown bears would still rule as apex predators.
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Post by brobear on Apr 10, 2021 2:43:52 GMT -5
I belive that mature male brown bears would still rule as apex predators. See 'Lion vs Bear in the Wild' in the face-off section.
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Post by brobear on Jul 20, 2021 4:12:10 GMT -5
www.sfgate.com/news/article/Activists-say-2-Syrian-brown-bears-in-Lebanon-16322449.php?fbclid=IwAR2d_wm4Laj-XZfHxT-C5xvnvChJtHvr2rQIr1Rv4TvN33TlX81HB8PV2-0#photo-21249990 Activists say that 2 Syrian brown bears in Lebanon were flown to the U.S.A. Fadi Tawil, Associated Press, July 18, 2021 Updated: July 18, 2021 8:38 a.m. Hanaway, Lebanon (AP) — Two bears that had been held in small cement cages for more than a decade in Lebanon will be flown to the United States, where they will be released into the wild, activists said Sunday. Animals Lebanon, a Beirut-based group, said the two Syrian brown bears (Ursus arctos syriacus / arctos), now named Homer and Ulysses, were rescued from a private zoo in southern Lebanon. The two bears were freed after animal rights activists convinced the zoo owner that they deserve a place better than the small cages where they had been kept for over 10 years. The bears had been in the village of Hanaway near the southern port city of Tyre. “No animal should have to live in such terrible conditions, without proper food, veterinary care, or housing,” said Jason Mier, Animals Lebanon director. “For the first time in their life they can actually be bears, with large natural enclosures, and the ability to experience and enjoy their days,” he added. On Sunday, the bears, each weighing about 130 kilograms (286 pounds) were darted to sedate them, given a quick medical check, then moved into large metal transport crates for the journey. They were driven to Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport where they will be put on a plane to the United Arab Emirates. From there, they will fly to Chicago. They will then be driven to the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado. The Wild Animal Sanctuary cares for hundreds of lions, tigers, bears, wolves and other animals. They include a fox and a wallaby rescued earlier by Animals Lebanon. Animals Lebanon has closed four substandard zoos by rehoming animals to sanctuaries in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and South Africa. Bears and other endangered animals are still kept as exotic pets and in private zoos in Lebanon. The flight from Beirut had been delayed twice, first when the country’s severe economic crisis began nearly two years ago and then amid coronavirus restrictions that closed the airport for weeks. A bear stands inside a cage at a zoo, in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Sunday, July 18, 2021. Animals Lebanon, a Beirut-based group, said Sunday that two bears including this one, that were rescued from a private zoo in southern Lebanon, will be flown to the United States where they will be released into the wilderness. Credit: Bilal Hussein / AP
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Post by brobear on Jul 20, 2021 4:13:36 GMT -5
A bear stands after being shot with an anaesthetic arrow, inside a cage at a zoo, in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Sunday, July 18, 2021. Animals Lebanon, a Beirut-based group, said Sunday that two bears, including this one, that were rescued from the private zoo in southern Lebanon, will be flown to the United States where they will be released into the wilderness. Credit: Bilal Hussein / AP
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Post by brobear on Jan 23, 2022 0:08:27 GMT -5
www.oneearth.org/species-of-the-week-syrian-brown-bear/ Species of the Week: Syrian brown bear: Each Wednesday, One Earth’s “Species of the Week” series highlights a relatively unknown and fascinating species to showcase the beauty, diversity, and remarkable characteristics of our shared planet Earth. Typically, endless sands dunes below a blazing sun comes to mind when one thinks of the wild Middle East, not the mountain slopes forested with juniper, meadows of bright flowers, and hedges of pistachio, almond, and maple carpeting the forest floor. Here living amongst the noble mouse-like hamster, jackal, red fox, wild sheep, mountain goats, lynx, and Persian leopard is the Syrian brown bear. They are the only bear known to have white claws and their distinct pale, straw-colored fur seems to provide the missing link between their polar and grizzly bear cousins. Stretching from Northern Iran’s lush range off the Caspian Sea, to the Caucasus mountains, and into Turkey, Syrian brown bears are quite small. Still a bear however, they can measure up to four and a half feet from nose to tail and weigh over 500 pounds. Omnivorous, these bears eat fruit, berries, seeds, plants, grasses, nuts, insects, and small mammals. With agricultural development ever further encroaching on their habitat, they have been spotted consuming grains, harvested nuts, and livestock. The species has had limited observation in the wild due to conflicts in the nations surrounding and making up its territory. Mating is believed to occur between May and July with cubs born around January or early February. Females build a winter den in caves or hollow trees, mostly commonly birch, to give birth and raise their young. Like all bears, Syrian brown bears play an important role in their environment. Dispersing pieces of the vegetation they consume, they help replant and fertilize the forest. As a predator, they keep mammal populations in balance and clean up carcasses. Keeping their ecosystem healthy and growing is vital to a region with excessive oil production, purifying the air and sequestering greenhouse gases. Yet, the species is threatened by large-scale deforestation, habitat degradation, and poaching. Native peoples to the region have differing views on the bears. Locals in the Black Sea region hunt illegally for their fat, which is has been proven not to have any medicinal value. Others living in the “Holy Land,” or those throughout Jordan and Syria, revere it as the bear to have been spoken of in the Hebrew Bible, referencing the protectiveness and love of a mother towards her offspring. Historically, Syrian brown bears did habit these countries along with Israel and Palestine, and even as far east at Turkmenistan, but were driven out. In 2004, the first time in sixty years, tracks were recorded in the snow in the Lebanese mountains and again in February 2011. A group of men in the Beqaa Valley in December 2016 reportedly filmed a female with her cub in the snow giving hope that the bear is reclaiming some of its former terrain. Syrian brown bears are the flagship species of theElburz Range Forest Steppe ecoregion, located in the South Caspian Coastal & Mountain Mixed Forests bioregion (PA28).
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