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Weltkugel mit Großbären der Welt

The large Bears of the world

We take you on a journey around the world

There are eight living species of large bears worldwide. Some live on different continents, others only in very limited areas. There are bears in the arctic and bears in the tropics. Due to their adaptation to their habitats, they naturally look different and have very different ways of living. Some bears are rather small and others very large, some like to stay in trees, others only climb in emergencies, one bear species' diet is based on meat while another only eats plants.

The eight big bear are: black bear, polar bear, brown bear, giant panda, spectacled bear, asiatic black bear, sloth bear and Malayan bear.

By the way, most of these bears are endangered, mainly because their habitat is destroyed by humans.

The cave bear - an extinct representative of the large bears

The cave bear lived during the last ice age. According to today's knowledge, the cave bear population in Europe already declined sharply about 40,000 years ago until it became extinct about 27,000 years ago. Although researchers found many bones, especially in caves, the cave bear actually was not a cave animal, as its name suggests. The first fossils of cave bears were found over 200 years ago.

Now it's your turn! In the following quiz, we ask you a question about each species. Test your knowledge about the bears of the world. There are some tricky questions. But if you follow us closely on social media, you will surely be able to answer all the questions. Are you #smartlikeabear?

Question - of -

Black bears feed exclusively on fish, insects, small mammals and carrion.

Schwarzbär

Great! The black bear is an omnivore, but the majority of its diet consists of plants, fruits and nuts. However, its diet is supplemented by animal components such as fish, insects, carrion and small mammals.

This statement is not correct. The black bear is an omnivore, but the majority of its diet consists of plants, fruits and nuts. However, its diet is supplemented by animal components such as fish, insects, carrion and small mammals.

Male cave bears were about the same size as brown bears.

Nachbildung Höhlenbär

Great!  The cave bear's length was up to 3.50 m and its shoulder height about 1.70 m. It was significantly larger than a brown bear with a shoulder height of about 1.00 m.

This statement is false. The cave bear's length was up to 3.50 m and its shoulder height about 1.70 m. It was significantly larger than a brown bear with a shoulder height of about 1.00 m.

Polar bears hibernate from November to March.

Eisbär

Great! Polar bears do not hibernate, as winter provides optimal conditions for seal hunting. Should extreme weather conditions prevail, they will let themselves be snowed in and can thus withstand heavy snowstorms. Caves are only used by pregnant females between October/November-March. Then they withdraw into dens they digged by themselves.

This statement is not true. Polar bears do not hibernate, as winter provides optimal conditions for seal hunting. Should extreme weather conditions prevail, they will let themselves be snowed in and can thus withstand heavy snowstorms. Caves are only used by pregnant females between October/November-March. Then they withdraw into dens they digged by themselves.

The giant panda is a herbivore and is busy eating for about 14 hours a day. How many kg of bamboo does it eat every day?

Großer Panda

Since the intestine does not sufficiently utilise the vegetable food, giant panda neeed a large quantity of food. Every day, 10-15 kg of bamboo are consumed. However, the giant panda is very picky. It likes just 25 varieties out of about 100 types of bamboo. When there is no more bamboo, the panda moves on.  

 

It splits the bamboo stalks with its fangs and uses its molars to grind them up. After eating, the panda rests for a few hours.

Since the intestine does not sufficiently utilise the vegetable food, giant panda neeed a large quantity of food. Every day, 10-15 kg of bamboo are consumed. However, the giant panda is very picky. It likes just 25 varieties out of about 100 types of bamboo. When there is no more bamboo, the panda moves on.  
  It splits the bamboo stalks with its fangs and uses its molars to grind them up. After eating, the panda rests for a few hours.

The mating season of the asiatic black bear is always from May-June.

Kragenbär

Great! The asiatic black bear lives in the forests of the temperate, subtropical and tropical zones. The geographic range in which it is native stretches from South and East Asia, Afghanistan, Iran, China, Siberia, Korea to Japan. It prefers deciduous forests, tropical rainforests. Depending on the area in which the asiatic black bear lives, the time of the mating season therefore varies. For example, while in Russia the mating season is from May-June, in more southern regions it shifts by 3 months to August-September.

The asiatic black bear lives in the forests of the temperate, subtropical and tropical zones. The geographic range in which it is native stretches from South and East Asia, Afghanistan, Iran, China, Siberia, Korea to Japan. It prefers deciduous forests, tropical rainforests. Depending on the area in which the asiatic black bear lives, the time of the mating season therefore varies. For example, while in Russia the mating season is from May-June, in more southern regions it shifts by 3 months to August-September.

The sloth bear has a gap between the teeth in its upper jaw.

Lippenbär

Great! Sloth bears have two fewer incisors in their upper jaw, creating a handy gap between their teeth that allows them to suck ants and termites out of their mounds. For this, sloth bears can additionally close their nostrils when needed.

 Sloth bears have two fewer incisors in their upper jaw, creating a handy gap between their teeth that allows them to suck ants and termites out of their mounds. For this, sloth bears can additionally close their nostrils when needed.

The spectacled bear is the only species of the eight large bears living in Australia.

Brillenbär

Great! The spectacled bear, also known as the Andean bear, is the only species of the eight large bears that lives in the Andes. It can be found in the tropical Andes and in the offshore mountain ranges in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. 

The spectacled bear, also known as the Andean bear, is the only species of the eight large bears that lives in the Andes. It can be found in the tropical Andes and in the offshore mountain ranges in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. 

The brown bear's coat changes with the seasons.

Braunbär Balou

Great! The winter coat of brown bears is thick, moderately long and rather shaggy. The colour and length of the coat varies. In summer, the colour fades and the bear loses old fur. In autumn, the bears have their winter coat again.

The winter coat of brown bears is thick, moderately long and rather shaggy. The colour and length of the coat varies. In summer, the colour fades and the bear loses old fur. In autumn, the bears have their winter coat again.

The Malayan bear is the largest of the eight bears.

Malaienbär

Great! The Malayan bear is the smallest of the eight large bears. It only grows to about 1.40m tall and weighs only 65 kg on average.

The Malayan bear is the smallest of the eight large bears. It only grows to about 1.40m tall and weighs only 65 kg on average.

Points reached:

What is a mammoth doing on the beach?

Not only cave bears lived until the last ice age. Together with mammoths, sabre-toothed tigers and woolly rhinos, they roamed through large parts of Europe during this period and also populated the landscape of today's Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In many places, you can still discover traces of this period that left such a lasting mark on our region. The flora and fauna are preserved in biosphere reserves, national parks and nature parks. The BEAR SANCTUARY Müritz is one of over 30 regional nature adventure centre where you can experience our nature up close. Embark on an exciting journey into the past and gain incredible insights about this time.

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