Diet composition and dependence on supplementary feeding in the Gobi bear (Ursus arctos gobiensis)

The Gobi bear (Ursus arctos gobiensis) is classified as Critically Endangered according to the international assessment of the IUCN, and studies on its diet have been limited in recent years. In order to determine the diet composition of the Gobi bear, fecal samples collected in 2016, 2017, and 2019 were analyzed using the microhistological method. A total of 101 fecal samples were examined, and diet composition was identified by comparison with plant reference samples. Overall diet composition consisted of 67.2% plant material, 6.43% animal matter, and 26.31% supplementary food. Compared with the 1999 study, the proportion of plant-based food decreased from 92% to 40.3%, while supplementary feeding increased from 0% to 54.8% in 2019. This indicates that the Gobi bear's dependence on human-provided food has increased. The results of this study indicate that the diet composition of the Gobi bear has changed considerably over the last two decades, with a decrease in natural plant-based food and an increasing reliance on supplementary feeding. Therefore, within the framework of conservation management for the Gobi bear, it is necessary to restore natural vegetation, ensure the stability of natural food resources, and continue diet studies using molecular genetic methods to obtain more precise information.