I summarize data on the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in the South Caucasus, which includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The most current information is from Georgia, where research has been carried out on the species. I determined the present distribution of brown bears in the South Caucasus based on extensive fieldwork, literature, and satellite maps. Bears have been exterminated from many areas and now live mainly in mountain forests, where human access is limited. In some areas of the South Caucasus, the bear range may be considered fragmented. The many population estimates have varying credibility among countries and periods. I estimate that 2,000–2,500 bears remain in the South Caucasus. The brown bear is protected in Georgia and Armenia and is hunted legally in Azerbaijan. Scientists from the South Caucasus agree that recreational, illegal hunting is the primary problem in the region.
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1 January 2010
Brown bear distribution and status in the South Caucasus
Bejan Lortkipanidze
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Ursus
Vol. 21 • No. 1
January 2010
Vol. 21 • No. 1
January 2010
Armenia
Azerbaijan
brown bear
Caucasus
Georgia
status
Ursus arctos