Distribution
Within the former Soviet Union, it occurs in Transcaucasia, in Azerbaijan Talysh region, Karabakh, Northern Armenia, Abkhazia and Kopet Dag. Outside the ex-USSR, it occurs in Iran, Iraq and Turkey. It is extinct in Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and, more recently, in Syria.
Like many large mammals, the Syrian brown bear population is declining due to habitat loss, and poaching. They are a popular target for big game hunters in the Middle East and in Asia. In addition, bear bile (ursodeoxycholic acid) is a valuable commodity because of its use in traditional Chinese medicine as an assumed cure for rheumatism, poor eyesight and gall stones.
Read more about this topic: Syrian Brown Bear
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