Right now, there are eight different species of bears living on our planet, with a few of these species having multiple subspecies. Not long ago, pandas were classified as bears, but currently, only the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) remains among the largest land carnivores. The only true panda now is the red panda (Ailurus fulgens), which has been moved to a different family of animals altogether. Bears can be found in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. In the past, they also roamed in the mountainous regions of northwest Africa, but have been completely eradicated from this area. The species there was the Atlas bear (Ursus arctos crowtheri), a subspecies of the brown bear.
The largest bear species on Earth is the polar bear, who can be found in the Arctic islands and along the northern coast of the mainland. A male polar bear can weigh as much as 600 kg. The Kodiak bear, which is a subspecies of the brown bear, could potentially challenge the polar bear for the title of heaviest. On the flip side, the smallest bear species is the Malayan bear (Helarctos malayanus), which weighs a maximum of 65 kg. The species that occupies the largest area is the brown bear, which has up to 16 recognized subspecies.
These bears come in a wide range of body weights, from around 60 kg all the way up to 600 kg for the Kodiak. In Europe, and occasionally in the Czech Republic, there is a specific subspecies of the brown bear known as the brtnik. This name is derived from the term “brť,” which refers to hollow trees that are home to wild bees. Beekeepers used to gather honey from these brti, which is something that bears also love to do. Interestingly, Brtník is also the name of a village in Central Bohemia.
Come and celebrate Bear Day with bears at your local zoo!
