Brown bear (Ursus arctos) — the largest predator living in Ukraine's territory, and the only representative of the bear family in the country's fauna. Once this species was widely distributed throughout the state, inhabiting forest and partially steppe zones. Today, its range has catastrophically shrunk, and the species is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine with the conservation status \"extinct\".

Habitat Range and Population Size

Currently, the main population of brown bears in Ukraine is concentrated in the Carpathian region. It is here that the overwhelming majority of individuals are found — estimates range from 300 to 350 animals. The highest concentration of bears is observed in the Zakarpattia and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, where up to 200 individuals are counted. Smaller populations have been preserved in the Lviv and Chernivtsi regions.

Significantly less frequently — in isolated cases — bears are encountered in the Polesie, particularly in the Kyiv and Sumy regions. In 2025, camera traps at the Chernobyl Nature Reserve captured an adult brown bear, indicating the gradual restoration of biodiversity in this exclusion zone.

History of Population Decline

The situation with the brown bear in Ukraine causes serious concern among ecologists and conservation organizations. Over the past 50 years, the population of the species has decreased by approximately four times — from around 1300 individuals to the current 300–350.

The main reasons for such catastrophic population decline are:

• Fragmentation of habitat — active road construction, the expansion of inhabited areas, and deforestation divide natural territories into isolated patches, hindering the free movement of animals.
• Poaching — illegal shooting remains a serious threat, especially in border regions.
• Destruction of the food base — intensive forest exploitation and recreational load deprive bears of their natural food sources.
• Disturbance factor — the active presence of humans in forests forces animals to leave their territories.

Characteristics of Lifestyle

The brown bear is a typical forest species. In mountainous areas, it prefers mosaic forests, alternating with regenerating cuttings and subalpine meadows. Bears make dens in old tree hollows, under roots, on slopes in thickets, or among rocky heaps. The beginning and timing of winter hibernation vary depending on weather conditions.

Despite its impressive size, the bear is an omnivore, with plant food often comprising the main part of its diet. Cubs are born once every two years, at the end of December — the beginning of January, usually in two, which remain with their mother for two years. Adult males can weigh more than 400 kilograms.

Human-Bear Conflict

Between 2018 and 2023, cases of conflicts between large predators and local residents, mainly farmers and beekeepers, were recorded in the Carpathians. 31.3% of such incidents consisted of bear attacks on livestock and bee hives. At the same time, the total number of conflicts has decreased almost fivefold, and attacks on apiaries have decreased almost twice.

In the Carpathians, there is also a rehabilitation center for brown bears on the territory of the National Nature Park \"Sinevir\" — the first and only one in Ukraine. Animals that have been kept in captivity for a long time: in restaurants, circuses, or private zoos, come here. In the center, they are gradually adapted to life in natural conditions.

Prospects and Protection

The brown bear is protected not only under national but also international legislation: the species is listed in the IUCN Red List, included in the CITES Appendices and the Bern Convention. Effective conservation measures include preserving natural habitats, ecological education with the population, combating poaching, and developing measures to reduce conflicts between humans and predators.

Despite the difficult situation, the appearance of bears in the Chernobyl Nature Reserve gives hope for the gradual recovery of the population. However, comprehensive measures for preserving natural territories and migration routes, as well as combating the main threats facing the largest predator in Ukraine, are required for this.

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