Asiatic black bear  (Ursus thibetanus)

Hibernation: a winter survival strategy characteristic of some mammals in which an animal's metabolic rate slows down and a state of deep sleep is attained. Whilst hibernating, animals survive on stored reserves of fat that they have accumulated in summer. In insects, the correct term for hibernation is 'diapause', a temporary pause in development and growth. Any stage of the lifecycle (eggs, larvae, pupae or adults) may enter diapause, which is typically associated with winter.
Subspecies: a different race of a species, which is geographically separated from other populations of that species.

1. UNEP-WCMC database (July, 2002)
   http://quin.unep-wcmc.org
   
2. Macdonald, D. (2001) The New Encyclopedia of Mammals. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
   
3. IUCN Red List (July, 2002)
   http://www.redlist.org./search/details.php?species=22827
   
4. Animal Diversity Web (July, 2002)
   http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/ursus/u._thibetanus$narrative.html
   
5. IUCN/SSC Bear and Polar Bear Specialist Groups (1998), Asiatic Black Bear Conservation Action Plan (July, 2002)
   http://www.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/1999-004.pdf
   
6. Burnie, D. [ed.] (2001) Animal. Dorling Kindersley, London.