Commonly associated with the Deosai Plateau in Pakistan, the Himalayan Brown Bears are the largest animals in the Himalayas and are usually sandy or reddish-brown in colour.

Himalayan Brown Bears males range from 1.5m up to 2.2m (4 ft 11in – 7 ft 3in) long, while females are 1.37m to 1.83m (4 ft 6 in – 6 ft) long. The bears are found in Nepal, India, Pakistan and Tibet. The bears go into hibernation around October and emerge during April and May. Hibernation usually occurs in a den or cave made by the bear.

Himalayan Brown Bears are omnivores and eat grasses, roots and other plants as well as insects and small mammals they also like fruits and berries. They will also prey on large mammals, including sheep and goats. Adults will eat before sunrise and later during the afternoon.

The Himalayan brown bear is a critically endangered species in some of its range with a population of only 150-200 in Pakistan. The populations in Pakistan are slow reproducing, small, and declining because of habitat loss, fragmentation, poaching, and bear baiting.

Himalayan Brown Bear used under CC BY / Desaturated from original