Aggressive behaviors of the Japanese brown bear
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2006 |
Authors: |
C.D. Balanchard, R.J. Blanchard, T. Takashini, N. Suzuki |
Publication/Journal: |
Aggressive Behavior |
Keywords: |
aggression, brown bear, dominance, fighting, ursus arctos yesoensis. |
Abstract:
Film analysis and direct observation suggest that 2 very different types of intraspecific fights occur among Japanese brown bears maintained in laige,stable colonies.Disputes arising over food are short, and involve such activities as threatening, muzzling,chasing, and flight. Weapon use during feeding fights primarily involves slashingblows to the back or head areas of the opponent. In contrast, “spontaneous” fightsare longer, and consist almost exclusively of wrestling, with bites and forepaw blows directed at the opponent’s ruff area. These spontaneous fights occur primarily among the larger and higher-ranked male bears, especially among animals with closely adjacent rankings. It is su^ested that such fights facilitate the establishment of dominance relationships by providing an opportunity for mutual assessment of strength and stamina without serious risk of injury.