There are eight bear species worldwide. Bears are highly intelligent animals. They all have a very strong sense of hearing and smell. It is said that bears can smell honey from a distance of 3.1 miles (5 km). The Asiatic Black Bear is found in Southern Asia (map).

It is a medium sized bear. Asiatic Black Bears are often called Moon Bears because of the V-shaped patch of cream or yellow colored fur on their chest.(photo) The shape looks like a moon. The ears of an Asiatic Black Bear look much larger than those of other bears. Female bears are smaller than males.

Most of these bears live in hilly areas with forests or towards the mountains. In summer, the Moon Bears prefer higher altitudes. As the cold of winter comes they move to lower elevations. Moon Bears are mainly awake at night, though many tend to be very active at dawn and dusk. They sleep in caves or in nests on tree branches. After their birth, the baby bears stay with their mother for up to three years. Moon Bears eat bee hives, fruits, nuts, insects, vegetables, and small animals like mice or birds. In the wild, Moon Bears can live up to 30 years. On bear farms, many die at less than half that age, between 10 to 12 years.

Species: group of animals of the same kind. Bear species: Asiatic Black Bear, American Black Bear, Brown Bear, Polar Bear, Giant Panda, Sun Bear, Sloth Bear, Spectacled Bear.

Asiatic Black Bear

American Black Bear

Brown Bear

Polar Bear

Giant Panda

Sun Bear

Sloth Bear

Spectacled Bear

The Asiatic Black Bear is found in China and across Asia