Panda Updates – Friday, January 21

It tends to be common knowledge that giant pandas are native to China, but did you know that other bears also live in China?

Four species of bears occupy different regions of the country: giant pandas, sun bears, Asiatic black bears, and brown bears. They are all found in different territories, noted below. 

Giant pandas live in south central China and occupy Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. Sun bears have been found in southwestern China, in the Yunnan province closer to their main territories in Southeast Asia. Asiatic black bears have been found in the northeastern mountain ranges of China. 
There are two subspecies of brown bear in China: the Tibetan brown bear and the Himalayan brown bear. The Himalayan brown bear lives in western China near the borders of northern India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal. The Tibetan brown bear also overlaps in this territory. 

And now you know!

(Photo: Trish J.)

Trish J.
Keeper I, Mammals