п»їAre Mexican grizzly bears extinct?

Quck answer

The Mexican grizzly bear is considered extinct in the wild. The last confirmed sighting of the species occurred in 1960. However, there have been unconfirmed reports of sightings in recent years, leading some to believe that there may still be a few surviving individuals in remote areas. Conservation efforts are underway to reintroduce the grizzly bear to parts of its former range in Mexico.

Extinct Animals

Although brown and grizzly bears were once thought to be different species, they are now considered to be the same species, Ursus arctos. The classification and number of subspecies, however, is still up for debate. Brown bears are estimated to have a population of 200,000 and can be found primarily in North America and Russia [source: McLellan]. The Mexican grizzly bear is a subspecies of the brown bear, indicating that they are not extinct based on a cursory search.

However, further research shows that in 1982, the International Union for Conservation of Nature published a book stating that Mexican grizzly bears were extinct. This organization tracks the conservation status of plants and animals and ranks animals as threatened, endangered, or safe. The IUCN also classifies the Mexican grizzly bear as a subspecies of the brown bear.

The Mexican grizzly bear lived in the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico, but in the early 1960s, a Mexican rancher blamed them for killing his cattle (even though they mostly eat plants and insects). As a result, he initiated a campaign to eradicate the bears, leading to their probable extinction by 1964.

While the brown bear species still thrives in parts of North America, Europe, and Asia, the Mexican grizzly bear is extirpated, meaning it is locally extinct.

More Information

Related Articles

• Will we soon be extinct?
• Are frogs on the brink of extinction?
• What brought bison back from the brink of extinction?
• How Extinction Works
• Types of Bears

Sources

• Capra, Stephen. “Restoring the Real Wild — Grizzly Bears in New Mexico, Past, Present and Future.” New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. March 4, 2009 (Feb. 5, 2015) http://www.nmwild.org/2009/news/grizzly-bear/
• International Union for Conservation of Nature. “The IUCN Mammal Red Data Book.” 1982. (Jan. 12, 2015) https://books.google.com/books?id=Db4KmRAz4u4C&pg=PA339&lpg=PA339&dq=is+mexican+grizzly+bear+extinct&source=bl&ots=xKFYGio-4x&sig=U94R2bk6AWvn9gA9oY3-GvRGa5g&hl=en&sa=X&ei=77izVO3TCIKjgwSG-YGQBA&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q=is%20mexican%20grizzly%20bear%20extinct&f=false
• McLellan, B.N. et al. “Ursus arctos.” The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. (Jan. 12, 2015) http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41688/0
• World Wildlife Fund. “Brown Bear.” 2014 (Jan. 12, 2015) http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/species/profiles/mammals/brown_bear2/

FAQ

1. What is the Mexican grizzly bear?

The Mexican grizzly bear is a subspecies of the North American grizzly bear that was once found in Mexico.

2. When did the Mexican grizzly bear go extinct?

The Mexican grizzly bear was declared extinct in 1964 by the Mexican government.

3. What caused the extinction of the Mexican grizzly bear?

The main factor that caused the extinction of the Mexican grizzly bear was habitat loss due to human activities like logging, mining, and agriculture. Hunting and poaching also played a role in their decline.

4. When was the last sighting of the Mexican grizzly bear?

The last confirmed sighting of the Mexican grizzly bear was in 1960 in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico.

5. Are there any efforts to reintroduce the Mexican grizzly bear?

There are currently no efforts to reintroduce the Mexican grizzly bear, as there are no viable populations left to reintroduce them to. However, there are conservation efforts to protect other species and their habitats in Mexico.

6. How is the Mexican grizzly bear different from other grizzly bears?

The Mexican grizzly bear was smaller in size than other grizzly bears, with a shorter snout and longer fur. They also had a unique genetic makeup due to their isolation from other grizzly bear populations.

7. Was the Mexican grizzly bear ever hunted for sport or fur?

Yes, the Mexican grizzly bear was hunted for both sport and fur, which contributed to their decline in population.

8. Are there any museums or organizations dedicated to the Mexican grizzly bear?

There are no museums or organizations specifically dedicated to the Mexican grizzly bear, but there are conservation organizations working to protect other species and their habitats in Mexico.

9. Will the Mexican grizzly bear ever be brought back from extinction?

It is unlikely that the Mexican grizzly bear will ever be brought back from extinction, as there are no viable populations left to reintroduce them to. However, conservation efforts can help protect other species and their habitats in Mexico to prevent further extinctions in the future.