Seasonal diets of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in the Khangchendzonga National Park, Eastern Himalaya India

Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in Khangchendzonga National Park exhibit seasonal diet shifts, with a notable reliance on bamboo during summer and a broader plant-based diet in winter. The study, conducted by Basnett et al. (2021), analyzed fecal samples to identify dietary components across seasons, revealing that bears adapt their foraging strategies to the availability of resources. This research highlights the ecological importance of bamboo in the Eastern Himalayan ecosystem and provides insights into the adaptive behavior of this species within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Basnett, R., Kumar, A., Vishwakarma, A., & Boro, B. K. (2021). Seasonal diets of Asiatic black bear ( Ursus thibetanus ) in the Khangchendzonga National Park, Eastern Himalaya India. Journal of Natural History, 55(3-4), 163–175. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2021.1899324