Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary and Himalayan Brown Bear

Context

The recent sighting of a female Himalayan brown bear along with her cubs in the Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary of Himachal Pradesh has renewed attention towards the conservation of this rare species and its high-altitude Himalayan habitat.

About Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary

1. Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as the Sangla Wildlife Sanctuary, lies in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
2. The sanctuary forms part of the Western Himalayan range and spreads across an area of nearly 30.98 sq. km.
3. Snow-covered mountains, alpine valleys and fast-flowing rivers dominate the landscape of the sanctuary.
4. The sanctuary extends from about 3,200 metres to 5,486 metres above sea level, which creates diverse ecological conditions.
5. Unlike many other protected areas in Himachal Pradesh, the sanctuary falls in a dry climatic zone and therefore receives very little monsoon rainfall.
6. The region supports dry temperate forests, coniferous forests, sub-alpine vegetation, alpine scrublands and high-altitude pastures.
7. Rhododendron, oak, pine and several medicinal herbs grow naturally in the sanctuary.
8. The Lamkhanga Pass trekking route passes through the sanctuary and connects Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh with the Gangotri region of Uttarakhand.
9. The sanctuary also provides habitat to snow leopards, Himalayan black bears, musk deer and several Himalayan bird species.

Himalayan Brown Bear

1. The scientific name of the Himalayan brown bear is Ursus arctos isabellinus.
2. The species inhabits the high-altitude Himalayan region and ranks among the largest mammals found there.
3. People also refer to it as the Himalayan Red Bear or Isabelline Bear, while locals in Ladakh call it “Denmo”.
4. The Himalayan brown bear survives mainly in alpine and sub-alpine habitats above the timberline between 3,000 and 5,500 metres.
5. The species occurs across the northwestern and central Himalayas, including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China.
6. In India, the species survives in fragmented populations across Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
7. The bear develops thick reddish-brown or sandy-coloured fur that protects it from extreme cold conditions.
8. Himalayan brown bears consume grasses, roots, bulbs, insects and small mammals such as marmots, pikas and voles.
9. Male bears generally grow larger than females and weigh around 135 kg on average.

• During winter, the species hibernates inside dens to survive harsh climatic conditions.
• Researchers consider the Himalayan brown bear one of the oldest surviving brown bear lineages in the world.
• Some local legends connect the bear’s upright posture with stories of the mythical Yeti or “Abominable Snowman”.
• The IUCN Red List classifies the Himalayan brown bear as Critically Endangered.