The Asian black bear, a medium-sized bear species, is native to Asia and has developed a preference for living in trees. It can be found across a wide range of Asian regions, including the Himalayas, parts of Iran, the Indian subcontinent, mainland Southeast Asia, Korea, China, the Russian Far East, and some islands of Japan as well as Taiwan. Unfortunately, this species faces the risk of becoming endangered due to the destruction of its natural habitat and illegal hunting for its body parts, which are valued in traditional medicine. In terms of biological classification, the Asian black bear is considered a relatively unchanged descendant of the Old World bears. Its genetic make-up is almost identical to that of the other bears in the ursine family, and it has 74 chromosomes. It is thought that this bear may have descended from prehistoric bears such as Ursus etruscus or Ursus minimus, which appeared around 4 million years ago. However, distinguishing between the fossilized remains of these ancient bears and those of the modern Asian black bear can be challenging. Interestingly, the Asian black bear is closely related to the American black bear, sharing a common ancestor from Europe. It is estimated that these two types of black bear diverged about 3 million years ago. Despite uncertain genetic evidence, both the Asian and American black bears are generally seen as sister species and have a closer relationship with each other than with other bear species.

Human-wildlife conflict, a pressing challenge globally, emerges when humans and animals vie for natural resources, leading to significant repercussions for individuals, their livelihoods, ecosystems, and the animals themselves. This escalating issue, fueled by human population growth and changing land use, triggers a range of negative outcomes—from agricultural devastation and livestock losses to human injuries and fatalities, not to mention damage to infrastructure and potential disease spread between wildlife and domestic animals. Acknowledging this critical problem, recent decades have seen a shift towards more comprehensive management strategies beyond the traditional, often detrimental methods like lethal control or animal relocation. Current practices emphasize a multidimensional perspective, blending scientific research, sociological insights, and even artistic endeavors to devise effective solutions. In line this approach, the year 2023 has seen the publication of groundbreaking guidelines by the IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict & Coexistence Specialist Group. These guidelines serve as a foundation for tackling these conflicts, offering clear, actionable advice on fostering coexistence between humans and wildlife. Embracing this strategy is essential for biodiversity conservation and managing protected areas, requiring informed, collective efforts that respect the social, cultural, and economic intricacies involved.

The natural world is experiencing a significant crisis due to the destruction of habitats, a phenomenon that stands as the top reason for the decline in the variety of living species and their eventual extinction. This destruction happens when natural environments can no longer sustain the species that have historically lived there. As a result, these species either relocate or perish, leading to diminished biodiversity and a reduced number of species. This devastation of natural spaces can largely be attributed to human activities. Our demand for resources, agricultural expansion, industrial developments, as well as the spread of urban areas contributes heavily to this issue. Other human actions like mining, deforestation, and harmful fishing practices further exacerbate the problem. Natural factors such as climate change, invasive species, and various forms of pollution also play a part, although often connected to human influence. One critical aspect of this issue is habitat fragmentation, which typically precedes total habitat loss. This has caught the attention of ecologists around the world, as both fragmentation and loss are critical threats to the survival of endangered species. Areas with rich and unique biodiversity, known as biodiversity hotspots, are primarily found in tropical zones and are especially at risk. In these areas, often overflowing with unique species, habitat destruction is rampant. When tallying up all hotspots, they might encompass over half of the planet's terrestrial species. Sadly, in regions with dense human populations, such as various Asian countries and West Africa, and on many islands, most natural habitats have already been lost. This also applies to the marine environments adjacent to populous coastal cities, where precious coral reefs and other marine habitats are degrading. A notable example of this is the Malaysian township of Forest City, constructed on a highly sensitive wetland, causing irreversible damage.