A camera trap in the Almaty State Nature Reserve has captured unique footage of the Tian Shan brown bear in its natural habitat. The video was published by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, as reported by infohub.kz.
"These unique moments allow us to glimpse into the natural life of the brown bear, to learn about its behavior and lifestyle in the wild," the ministry said in a statement.
The Tian Shan brown bear is a rare, isolated subspecies of the brown bear, listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan and the International Red Book. These animals are relatively small: their body length ranges from 1.5 to 2.2 meters, and they weigh between 135 and 200 kilograms, although larger individuals are also found. Their main distinguishing feature is their long, light-colored claws on their front paws.
The Tian Shan brown bear is omnivorous: its diet includes grasses, rhizomes, bulbs, fruits, and berries. It sometimes catches marmots and pikas, and does not refuse carrion. Births occur in winter in a den, usually yielding 1-2 cubs.
In summer, the Tian Shan brown bear leads an active lifestyle, restoring strength spent during winter and accumulating fat reserves. The bear usually goes out in search of food in the early morning and cool evening hours. In summer, bears predominantly inhabit areas near rivers and lakes, in dense forests, and alpine meadows. On hot days, they rest in cool, shaded places, as well as near streams and riverbanks.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that camera traps in the Ustyurt Nature Reserve recently captured a rare leopard.