Bear, Brown

Scientific name: Ursus arctos

Origin: North America and Eurasia

Diet: Omnivore

Size: 1.5-2.8m

IUCN status: Least Concern

Threats: Human-bear conflicts resulting from raids on crops or livestock, poaching, habitat fragmentation

Zoos I have seen them: Tierpark Hellabrunn, Welsh Mountain Zoo, Camperdown Wildlife Centre, Wild Ireland

Interesting fact: It is believed that the brown bear became extinct in Ireland around 2,500 years ago, though they may have survived on the island until more recently. Cut marks found on Irish bear bones suggest that they were hunted by early Irish people.