Activity patterns of brown bears (Ursus arctos) on the Deosai Plateau, northern Pakistan

Abstract

The daily activity of Himalayan brown bears (Ursus arctos) in the Deosai National Park, northern Pakistan, was investigated over a period of four years (1993-1995 and 1999). Bears spent the largest part of the day feeding, followed by moving about. Resting and other activities combined formed a substantial part of the diurnal schedule. No significant difference in the daily time budget of males and females could be demonstrated, but subadults were found to move about significantly more than either adults or cubs and yearlings. Aberrant activity patterns observed during the summer of 1999 can be attributed to human disturbances caused by the Kargil war between India and Pakistan.