Meet the Moon Bears of Sichuan

The elusive moon bear – formally known as the Asiatic black bear – is one of the rarest bears on Earth. Its nickname comes from the patch of crescent-shaped cream-colored fur on its chest. In the remote mountains of China’s Sichuan province, moon bears scale precipitous cliffs, swim in swift rivers, build nests in trees and survive in some of the most rugged terrain on Earth. And these hardy mountain climbers have been spotted a number of times on Nat Hab’s Wild Side of China expeditions! Join Eddy Savage, a self-proclaimed “avid bear nerd,” for an in-depth look at this endangered species. Through photos and stories from China trips he has led, Eddy reveals where to find moon bears and how they fit into the wider world of bears. We’ll also hear about efforts to conserve moon bears, which have been under siege by the demand for their body parts in traditional Asian medicine, believed to hold curative properties. Caught from the wild in painful traps, the bears are kept in cramped cages on “farms” where bile is extracted from their gall bladders. Find out more about how you can be an advocate for moon bears.


Originally presented December 10, 2021

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