A review on ecological and physiological studies in bears from a One Health perspective

Abstract

The Hokkaido brown bear is the largest terrestrial mammal in the Hokkaido ecosystems and now inhabits almost all forests in Hokkaido, Japan. These bears have evolved through a unique shift from carnivorous to omnivorous feeding habits, which are of interest to their ecology. However, human-bear conflicts, such as human injury and crop or livestock damage, have become a serious concern, which requires ecological research for its mitigation. The hibernation behavior of bears has unique characteristics that differ from those of other small hibernators, including minimal decrease in body temperature. Interestingly, they show resistance to muscle atrophy and bone loss during prolonged periods of immobility. This review provides an overview of ecological and physiological studies on bears from One Health perspective, focusing on ecology, human-bear conflict, infectious diseases, and hibernating physiology and its application to human health.