The Syrian Brown Bear is a subspecies of the Eurasian Brown Bear. They have nutmeg/gray colored fur covering their entire bodies, with light brown almond shaped eyes. All of these bears have longer hair lengths on their withers (the ridge between their shoulder blades), where sometimes, those specific hairs can be darker in color, looking like a black stripe going along their spine. The Syrian Brown Bear is the only bear in the world known to have white claws!

Brown bears mate from May to July. Their cubs are born in January or February, during hibernation. Cubs are born blind, toothless, and hairless, and completely dependent on their mothers. 

Brown bears typically hibernate at higher elevations, building their dens in caves or hollow trees. 

This smallest species of Brown Bear is highly endangered, due to over hunting. They are valued in Middle Eastern areas for human and veterinarian medicine needs, food needs, and sport hunting. 

It is very rare to find a Syrian Brown Bear living comfortably in the United States, so getting to see one during your visit to Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary is one of a kind!