The Asiatic black bear inhabits the mountainous forests of Southern, South-Eastern and Eastern Asia. Recently, as a result of poaching and habitat destruction, the animal has received the title of 'endangered' throughout the majority of the bear's habitat. The Russian Far East is home to one of the Asiatic black bear's largest subspecies: the Ussuri black bear. The combination of an athletic musculature, powerful shoulder girdles, relatively long forelimbs and a small body size allows for its semiarboreal lifestyle. The bears construct nests up in the trees from broken branches, where they can feed and rest. Forests with a healthy balance of Mongolian oak, Korean pine, acorns and varied nuts play a crucial role in the survival of the species. The bears spend their winters hibernating in tree hollows, where they can remain dormant for up to six months. The arboreal mode of life allows for the bear to escape its main competition and predators: tigers and brown bears, however, as of yet,
not humans.

The flora and fauna of the Korean pine broad-leaved forests are characterised by the great variety of species with different origins. The 'Southern' and 'Northern' species form a diverse ecosystem of the Ussuri forest which ecologists refer to as 'The Northern Jungle'. Over 90 % of the Korean pine broad-leaved forests are currently exploited by human activities. Every year, the Asiatic black bear is faced with the challenge of occupying even smaller habitats.

Moreover, Asiatic black bear organs are often in high demand on the black market: the feet and bile of the species are used in Chinese cuisine and medicine. And just as the situation is worsening in other countries, habitat loss and poaching have become the main threats for the populations of the Asiatic black bear in Russia.