The bear is a beautiful, but at the same time very dangerous animal that has chosen the forests of North America, Europe and Asia. Since ancient times, this animal has become one of the main characters of legends, fairy tales and myths.
In Russia, they were so afraid of this beast that they didn’t even pronounce its name in rumors, only the definition “he that knows honey”, that is, “bear”, remained for us to use.
In the course of research, paleontologists found that these large animal planets settled about 5-7 million years ago. Consider several large species to find out which is the largest bear in the world.
Gubach
Of all species of bears, gubach has the most unusual appearance, and this bear lives in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia.
The head of the most exotic species is similar to the head of a sloth, and the shape of elongated lips gave the name to the whole species. Adults have a body length of up to 180 centimeters, and weight reaches 140 kilograms.
Gubachs feed on ants, termites, as well as plant foods. He has beautiful nails, with the help of which he climbs trees, where he gets his food.
Himalayan bear
Not only one of the largest bears, but also the most beautiful Himalayan bear lives in the mountain forests of India, Pakistan, it can be found from the Iranian foothills to Japan. The range from south to north covers the northern provinces of China, and in the north right up to Yakutia.
Unlike their relatives, brown bears, the Himalayan lead a semi-wood lifestyle, even hunt trees and escape from enemies. Yes, and a bear weighing 130-140 kilograms and a body length of up to 170 centimeters has enemies.
On the farms of China, Vietnam and a number of other eastern states, they are bred in captivity in order to preserve the population.
Spectacled bear
This species is found only in South America, and it is the only representative of a large bear family in this part of the globe. Turning to Wikipedia, we learn that they weigh from 80 to 150 kilograms, having a body length of 190 centimeters.
Like all bears, he arranges a lair, but does not hibernate, and leads an active lifestyle for a whole year. It feeds mainly on plant foods, and only occasionally can it hunt large animals.
Despite the favorable living conditions, spectacled bears are on the verge of extinction, and hunting for them is prohibited.
Giant panda
Cute and funny bamboo bear is the most peaceful and good-natured. Pandas grow up to 1.8 meters in length, and the largest individuals weigh 160 kilograms.
According to the species classification, these are predators, but the favorite delicacy of this animal is bamboo. An adult panda eats up to 30 kg per day. of this plant. Feel great in captivity, and as a Hispanic fellow, also does not fall into hibernation.
Only in 2016 was it possible to overcome the peak of the threat of the disappearance of pandas, and in recent years the population has grown significantly.
Kermod
A beautiful bear can only be found in the coastal forests of western Canada. They grow up to 180 centimeters in length, and weigh from 230 to 300 kilograms, which introduces them to the top of the largest bears.
Most of this species has a white, sometimes dirty cream coat, but they are not albinos or even relatives of polar bears.
They named it in honor of the zoologist Kermod, who first studied and described this species, and the waters of the local Indian tribes I call him a ghost bear.
Baribal
You can meet a black bear from the northern expanses of Alaska to Mexico, in all provinces of Canada and in 39 US states. Baribals grow up to 2 meters, and weigh from 330 to 360 kilograms.
Lives mainly in forests, and only in search of food, can go to open areas - river valleys, meadows and plains. This is a loner, although at birth, cubs, females form a kind of kindergartens, with the aim of raising and protecting offspring.
Baribals are vegetarians, although occasionally they can attack small livestock.
Grizzly
This is one of the subspecies of the brown bear. Grizzly bear lives mainly in Alaska, and it can also be found in some provinces of Canada and in some states of America.
This is the largest bearish representative in North America, and grows up to 2.3 meters in length and weighs 450 kilograms. There are many tales of grizzly cannibals, and in 2010 a 476 kilogram bear was killed in the United States.
It differs from its European relatives in habits and character, although it is very similar in appearance. Grizzly bear brown color, sometimes with a blackish tint.
Siberian brown bear
This giant is also a subspecies of the brown bear, and lives, as the name suggests, in Siberia, in the Anadyr and Kolyma river basins.
Alone wandering through the woods in search of food, and in winter falls into prolonged hibernation. It is omnivorous, and eats animal and plant foods in about the same amount. They are really huge, the body length reaches 2.5 meters, and the weight can reach 800 kilograms.
The offspring is born during the winter hibernation, and the teddy bear remains with its mother until the age of 3 until it gets stronger and acquires hunting skills.
Kodiak
And here is the largest bear in the world in the brown squad, because it grows up to 3 meters, and an adult kodiak weighs from 850 to 1000 kilograms. Today there are no more than 3,000 individuals, and the largest number lives on the Kodiak archipelago off the coast of Alaska.
A muscular mammal with a massive body is omnivorous, and in addition to animal food, vegetation also enters their diet. Large views do not adapt very well to captive conditions.
It is famous for the fact that this particular subspecies played in some popular films shot by Hollywood directors, and its beauty, grace and size can be estimated in the photo.
Polar bear
Our review is completed by the largest predator of the planet - the polar bear, whose weight reaches 1 ton and a body length of more than 3 meters. But there were very large individuals. So of all the predators that walk on Earth, the largest is the polar bear.
They live in the northern circumpolar regions of the planet, and in some areas of their habitation there are more than people. Note that the largest bear in the world is omnivorous, but the favorite treat is fish. Interestingly, the skin under the coat of a polar bear is black.
It is noteworthy that only pregnant females hibernate for a long period of time, but males hibernate in the winter for a short period, and even then not every year.
In conclusion, we note that the bears are incredibly smart and very inquisitive. For example, according to the testimony of hunters, bears can throw a stone or a stick into a trap, in order to neutralize it, then to pick up the bait without hindrance.
When walking on its hind legs, the bears put their foot completely on the surface of the earth, and of all living creatures on the planet, only humans walk this way.