Bike vs. Bear in Nakhon Ratchasima

[JSixpack]

"Occurred February 14, 2016 / Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand"

[hotchips]

What kind of bear is that?? Didn't realise there were bears this large in Thailand.

[kiniyow]

Most likely a Honey Bear and a nice one too..Very Lucky not to hit it..

[Rhys]

N ext time the elephant..

[DualSportBiker]

That would get the adrenalin to flow…

[chrissables]

Did you go back to have another look?

[Farang99]

Probably a sun bear, the only species of bear likely to be seen in most of Thailand. The Asian black bear is more a creature of the mountains.

[ozyjon]

I hope he gets to run free rather than be chained

for tourist dollars, also let the elephants go free.

[zackattack]

Honey bear

[Dtaw]

Asian black bear

[onflipflops]

It's not a Sun bear (honey bear). This is the Asian Black Bear, Thailand's largest bear species. And in Khao Yai the Asian Black Bear seems to be the most common of the two according to camera trap research and also from my personal experience. Not too long ago I saw two of them few hundred metres further down that road in a tree on the forest edge.

Lucky encounter, not only that you did not hit it, but seeing bears in Thailand is not so common.

For more info on the two species and how to differentiate in the field check:

http://wildlifeofthailand.com/blog/what-is-the-difference/bears-of-thailand/

Edited February 22, 2016 by onflipflops

[tomyumchai]

ah! wild bears. i saw 2 bloated carcases on the 32 in chai nat but i couldnt work out what they were. they looked the size of a big pig but had light brown fur and a bear-like head....... well, theres 2 less of them now anyway.

[northernphil]

All wrong , it was a King Cobra.

[bheard]

How about the pushbike rider he passed - he'd have been freaking out if he saw the bear I'd reckon . . .

[Dap]

All wrong , it was a King Cobra.

[Nayet]

Had he not been going so fast, he might have actually been able to enjoy the sight of the bear. I always have vehicles passing me at breakneck speed when I visit Khao Yai, making me wonder why they bother coming if they are going to speed through the park like that.