IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 103 



Hab. — The Himalayan black bear occurs throughout the forest 

 regions of the Himalayas and extends through parts of Afghanistan 

 into Beluchistan and the west frontier of Sindh. Eastwards it is found 

 in the Assam ranges extending into Burmah, Pegu, and Tenasserim. 

 The first authentic knowledge of its occurrence in Mergui was obtained 

 by the acquisition of two young specimens from that place in 1883. 

 The Himalayan black bear is also found in Southern China, Hainan 

 and Formosa. The black bears said to occur in the plains of Eastern 

 Bengal are likely to be of this species, as sloth bears are mostly 

 distributed in Bengal along its western frontier and the countries 

 bordering it. 



Length of life in captivity. 



The longest period during which a Himalayan black bear has as 

 yet lived in the garden has been a little over fifteen years, and it is 

 still alive and well. It may be remarked in this connection that the 

 animal referred to here lived for about eighteen years in the Viceroy's 

 menagerie at Barrackpore prior to its presentation to this garden by 

 His Excellency Lord Northbrook* 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — The same general principle which has been recommend- 

 ed for the brown bear should also be observed in this cas*e. The 

 house which has been assigned to the large Himalayan bear has been 

 one of the most successful habitations for bears in the garden, as the 

 excellent health which its inmate has generally maintained de- 

 monstrates. The building consists of a dark cave, a central pit covered 

 with a roof and provided with a bath, and a raised enclosure which 

 serves for a promenade. 



Food. — Boiled rice, boiled gram, bread, biscuits, fruits, vegetables, 

 eggs and milk. Usually it gets either a seer of rice or gram boiled, 

 about 4 ounces of sugar and some vegetables in the morning, a 

 loaf of bread, some biscuits, an egg with some vegetables in the 

 evening : the animal is extremely fond of sugarcane and juicy fruits ; 

 if an orange or a plantain be given, it immediately sets to peeling them 

 in a most methodical and businesslike way. During the summer the 

 large Himalayan bear is generally fed only once a day to prevent its 

 getting fat. The feeding of an animal like this costs from Es. 10 to 

 Rs. 12 per mensem ; smaller ones cost proportionately less. 



Transport. — The same remarks as have been made with regard to 

 the transport of a brown bear apply to bears generally. 



Breeding. — Himalayan bears once bred in the garden, but the 

 young one was unfortunately still-born. 



Treatment in sickness. 

 Several deaths have been caused by inflammation of the kings. 

 When very young animals have been concerned and a diagnosis 

 carefully made, fomentations have been applied and ammonia and 

 vinegar internally administered, but as far as it is known, without any 

 success. Diarrhoea and dysentery are also common among Himalayan 

 bears, but they soon yield to treatment when timely adopted. 



* This animal has since died. 



