| Contents |
Part I. Systematics, ecology, and behavior : Systemicts, evolution, and genetcis of bears -- Mating strategies -- Interspecific interactions between Brow Bears, unfulates, and other large carnivores -- Adaptations and competitive interactions of tropical Asian bear species define their biogeography: past, present, and future -- Remarkable adaptations of the American Black bear help explain why it is the most common bear: a log-term study from the center of its range -- Part II. Species accounts : Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) -- Andean Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) -- Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) -- Sloth Bear ( Melursus ursinus) -- Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) -- American Black Bear ( Ursus americanus) -- Brown Bear (Urus arctos; Eurasia) -- Brown Bear (dUrsus arctos; North America) -- Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) -- Part III. Human-bear coexistence : Human-bear conflicts at the beginning of the twenty-first century: patterns, determinants, and migration measures -- Principles of human-bear conflict management in challenging environments -- Patterns of bear attacks on humans, factors triggering risky scenarios, and how to reduce them -- Effects of human disturbance on Brown Bear behavior -- Bears in human-modified landscapes: the case studies of the Cantabrian, Apennine, and Pindos Mountains -- Part IV. Conservation and managememt : dConservation and maagemet of bears -- How is climate change affecting Polar Bears and Giant Pandas? -- Managing for interpopulation connectivity of the world's bear species -- Ex Situ conservation of bears: roles, status, and management -- The challenge of Brown Bear management in Hokkaido, Japan -- Potential ecological corridors for remnant Asiatic Black Bear population and its subpopulations linked to management units in Japan -- Captive bears in Asia: implications for animal welfare and conservation -- Human dimensions of Asiatic Black Bear conflicts and management in Japan -- Ecological and social dimensions of Sloth Bear conservation in Sri Lanka. |
| Abstract |
Bears ave fascinated people since ancient times. The relationship between bears and humans dates back thousands of years, during which time we have also competed with bears for shelter and food. In modern times, bears have come under pressure through encroachment on their habitats, climate change, and illegal trade in their body parts, including the Asian bear bile market. The IUCN lists six bears as vulnerable or endangered, and even the least concern species, such as the brown bear, are at risk of extirpation in certain countries. The poaching and international trade of these most threatened populations are prohibited, but still ongoing. Covering all bears species worldwide, this beautifully illustrated volume brings together the contributions of 200 international bear experts on the ecology, conservation status, and management of the Ursidae family. It reveals the fascinating long history of interactions between humans and bears and the threats affecting these charismatic species. |
