A black bear was recently spotted in the Rani Reserve Forest near Guwahati, highlighting the healthy biodiversity and thriving ecosystem of the region. 

About Rani Reserve Forest

• Rani Reserve Forest is located on the southwestern outskirts of Guwahati in Kamrup district of Assam.
• It lies close to the Garbhanga Reserve Forest and Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary, forming an important forest corridor in the region.
• The forest has dense vegetation and rich biodiversity, providing habitat to several species of mammals, birds and reptiles.
• The area plays a key role in maintaining ecological balance and supporting wildlife movement near the urban landscape of Guwahati.

About the Black Bear

The bear spotted is most likely the Asiatic Black Bear, a species commonly found in the forests of Northeast India.

Key characteristics

• Medium-sized bear with black fur and a distinctive white crescent-shaped mark on the chest.
• Known for its excellent climbing ability and preference for forested habitats.
• Omnivorous in nature, feeding on fruits, insects, small animals, honey and plant materials.

Habitat

• Found in tropical and subtropical forests, mountain forests and dense woodlands.
• Distributed across Northeast India, the Himalayan region and parts of East and Southeast Asia.

Conservation status

• Listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
• Protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which provides the highest level of legal protection in India.

Exam Hook

Statement Based Question

Consider the following statements about the Asiatic Black Bear:

1. It is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
2. It is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
3. It is primarily found in desert ecosystems of India.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: B

One-Line Wrap

The recent black bear sighting in Rani Reserve Forest highlights the success of Assam’s conservation efforts and the importance of protecting forest ecosystems near urban regions.

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