ASIATIC BLACK BEAR
The commercial trade in bear parts especially the gall bladder, which is used in
traditional Chinese medicine-poses a major threat to the Asiatic black bear.
Besides poaching, there is loss of habitat and increased confrontation with man.
Only a small proportion of the bear population in the country is within protected
areas. Since bears move to different habitats and elevations depending on the
season, they come into conflict with humans. S. Sathyakumar, Head of the
Department of Endangered Species at the Wildlife Institute of India, says that
“bears become increasingly territorial during their breeding season in summer
and tend to attack whatever resources are available”. Cases of mauling also tend
to increase making human-bear conflict common, especially in mountainous
regions. Most of the bears found in India spread across the hill states of Jammu
and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and North East. A comprehensive
count of Asiatic bears in India is not available but estimates put their number at
anywhere between 6000 and 7000. However, their numbers can fall if poaching
continues and the habitat shrinks further.

On the basis of your reading of the above passage, complete the following
sentences. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank
numbers.
(1) Asiatic bear is usually hunted for ___________.
(2) Major threat is posed to this bear by ___________.
(3) Cases of mauling tend to increase during their breeding season because
___________.
(4) Bears are usually found in India in ___________
(5) The word in the passage which means’ dying out’/ at risk is ___________.