Order Carnivora
Family Ursidae
Status. Category I (CR). Critically endangered.
Importance of the taxon for gene pool preservation. Represented in Turkmenistan by two subspecies: Syrian Brown Bear (U. a. syriacus Hemprich et Ehrenberg, 1828) in Kopetdag, and Himalayan (Tian Shan) Brown Bear (U. a. isabellinus Horsfield, 1826) in Koytendag. Preservation of single specimens will prevent the threat of irretrievable extinction of the species in the country.
Distribution. Central and Southwestern Kopetdag (sporadic visits from neighboring Iran). The species has disappeared in Koytendag. Beyond Turkmenistan – Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, Iraq, Syria.
Habitat. Mountain gorges and slopes with woody-shrubby thickets of maple, elm, Celtis, wild fruit trees and shrubs, including junipers.
Number and tendencies to change. Recorded in 1980 and 1985 in the upper reaches of the Chandir River but absent in 1989–1990; one sighting in 1996 in the Etrek River valley. In 2018, recorded in Togarova area in Central and Western Kopetdag. Twice observed in 2020 and 2021 in Sumbar River gorges. In Koytendag registered once in 1995 by footprints in Hojeýpil Sanctuary and Mount Ayribaba. No later traces recorded.
Biological peculiarities. Not studied in Turkmenistan. Monogamous. 1–2 offspring. Omnivorous but mainly feeds on fruits of wild trees and shrubs, larvae and honey of wild bees. Hibernates in winter. No natural food competitors.
Breeding. Not studied.
Conservation actions. Listed in the IUCN Red List (Category CR); in the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan since 1985; protected in Syunt-Hasardag, Kopetdag, and Koytendag State Nature Reserves; listed in CITES Appendix I.
Conservation proposals. Strengthen protection and public awareness campaigns.
Research proposals. Collect data on occurrence sites and conduct regular monitoring.