NEWS – First sight of rare bear Tibetan brown bear in Sikkim makes it first confirmed record in India
TIBETAN BROWN BEAR

• Also known as the Tibetian blue bear
• One of the rarest subspecies of bears in the world and is rarely sighted in the wild
• Characterized by a brown or reddish-brown fur coat, which can sometimes appear to have a bluish tint, giving it the name “blue bear.”
• Historically found mainly on the alpine eastern Tibetan plateau (4,500 to 5,000 metres) in eastern Tibet, western China, Nepal, and Bhutan
• Inhabits alpine forests, meadows, and steppes, close to the tree line
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wildlife Protection Act of 1972: Schedule II